What a shared passion for music and living in Paris can do…

Synopsis

Step into the roaring 1920s Parisian music scene

Leaving Manhattan…

For a secret Parisian affair…

New York darling Elizabeth Van Hoeven has everything…except freedom. But now Eliza’s traveling to study piano at the Paris Conservatoire and falling for jazz prodigy Jack Coleman in the process! A love like theirs is forbidden back home, and as they make beautiful music together under the Parisian lights, Eliza and Jack face a difficult choice: the life they’ve always known, or the possibility of a life they never could have imagined…

My review

Elizabeth Van Hoeven is living in New York’s 1920’s as a privileged young woman. Her family comes with wealth and prestige. Yet the one thing that makes Eliza’s heart truly skip a beat, is music. Having the opportunity of a lifetime, Eliza moves to Paris to study piano. And it’s on the other side of the world that she meets Jack Coleman, a talented jazz player.
Their backgrounds couldn’t be more different, as a white Manhattan girl and a black Harlem man feel this impossible pull toward each other.
But while everything seems possible in Paris, choices need to made anyway… a future together filled with love, or a future apart with only the memory of that wonderful time together in Paris? 

There is always something that pulls me into the stories of impossible loves. Is it because I love reading how the heart wins over the mind? Or because of wonderful characters not listening to society and make the most difficult choices yet manage to find that perfect happiness?
I don’t know, but this story for sure shows us many prejudices, many dilemma’s but also that marvellous feeling of pure love, with the addition of a few famous characters that our main characters meet, having that little extra. 

I have always liked music, I always have music on, wherever I am. As background at the office, at home, and even singing out of tune in the shower.
However, playing instruments is not something I can do, except those few years we learned to play the flute at high school. But I always admired people who can play an instrument and even shred sometimes a tear while hearing talented players. 

So I took an immediate liking to Eliza, as I can only imagine being able to play the piano like her, but also perfectly understanding where those notes can take you while playing.
But I also admired her courage, to follow her passion. Maybe I am just a coward, but I would be terrified to move to the other side of the world, even with the opportunity of a lifetime. 

However, what I liked the most, was seeing Eliza finding her feet, finding herself while being in Paris. She discovers a whole different world, where people accept her and just everyone else, without any prejudice. And even at moments where her homebase seemingly wants to pull the strings, I liked how Eliza pulled herself free, and fought for her own happiness. 

A happiness she didn’t know, but found with Jack…
Jack is a man who has been through a lot, and not only because of him being black, but he has also seen terrible things while fighting during the war.
It hurt me seeing how people, especially in New York, were prejudiced towards him just because of the colour of his skin. And only made me realize that even a century later, these things still happen…
Why can we not just see people for who they really are and not for how they look like? 

Yet is was heart-warming to read how in Paris Jack gets the treatment he truly deserves, gets opportunities because of his talent. And seeing him feeling at home in Paris, was somehow even sweet. 

Eliza and Jack show their readers that love doesn’t look at someone’s appearance, but at someone’s heart. And seeing a shared love for music only makes that attraction even bigger.
While this story takes place in the 1920’s, I found this a story that is still very relatable now. It shows us that even if society wants us to make other choices, following your heart and your passions is always the right choice. And being set at a great place like Paris only shows us that the right place at the right time will bring us the most wonderful and amazing things!

The journey of love

Synopsis

Life is full of highs and lows, but it’s who helps us through that counts.

Stumbling across her teenage diaries in her childhood home, Charlie is instantly transported to the 1990s.

Charlie relives all the emotions and feelings as memories come flooding back, from first kiss to first love and everything in between.

Back in the present and Charlie discovers that even in the darkest of times, light and laughter can ALWAYS be found.

A heartfelt journey through life, from teenage angst to the trials and tribulations of adulthood. Family love, friendship and romance weave throughout but who will love you, always, forever?

My review

While being back in her childhood home, looking after her ill mother, Charlie suddenly finds her old diaries again.
Those diaries bring her immediately back into the 90’s, and Charlie finds herself on a memory journey, rediscovering young Charlie having her first kiss, falling in love for the first time, and all the struggles while growing into adulthood.
But also thanks to those diaries, Charlie realizes that no matter how difficult things may get in life, there can always be found a silver lining.
A silver lining that perhaps will be the start of something new…

As I was born in 1986, I truly lived the ’90 as a young girl. As a teenager I followed every possible hype, and even if I was not one to follow fashion, I still had those Buffalo boots (were they a hype everywhere or was it just in Belgium?) and had my first crush in those years.
So reading this book was for me, like many of my peers, a real throwback down to memory lane! 

Despite the title of this book, I didn’t know what to expect. Was it a romance about second chances at love? Or was it a story about having found that One Love? From its blurb I couldn’t truly get any actual hint, so I was very curious to know what it was about. 

And it took me while to get completely into this story, but once I got in, I couldn’t get out. Of course, Charlie’s diaries taking her back to a time I know so well (and not so long ago! 😊) made it easy to feel connected with Charlie.
But not only that, also Charlie’s journey to get at where she is right now, was so recognizable.  

I hope it doesn’t sound very condescending, but Charlie had a normal life. She grew up with all the issues every child, teenager and young adult had. She tried to find her own path, with trial and error, with falling in love and also with having doubts about everything and everyone.
It did ring a bell with me, and I am sure it will do also with you! 

But this wasn’t only a trip down memory lane, as we also see all – grown – up Charlie facing present hardships.
And somehow it was amazing to see the evolution Charlie made from a young girl to this adult woman, who can still stand strong, despite every curveball life throws her. 

I have to admit, it drove me a little bit crazy not knowing the endgame of her love life immediately. But that it also the charm of the book, because no matter how much you plan or dream, you can only hope for the best but can neve know how life will turn out the be and if that person you loved once so dearly will still be standing by your side so many years later.
And that mystery has been put to words so well by this author! 

While reading, you can clearly see how personal this book is for the author. She took some inspiration from her own experiences, and you can see that personal touch while reading.
And that extra touch made this book not only remember me myself growing up, but made me realize what a wonderful tale this was about where not only life can take you, but also love…

Three generations living now together in France, can they become closer after being adrift for so long?

Synopsis

A family reunited after a twenty-year estrangement, will discover secrets that change their lives forever…

Gabriella Jacques, is happy to be back in her childhood home, Villa Espoir in the South of France ready to embrace fresh experiences with friends new and old and to heal some deep family scars.

Recently widowed Harriet Rogers, hopes to rebuild her family life and reconnect with Elodie, the daughter she abandoned into her mother Gabby’s care to follow her heart. But when an acquaintance from the past seeks her out, Harriet fears a secretfrom her past will ruin her plans.

Elodie Jacques, adores her new life in her Grandmothers old home as a freelance journalist. Her relationship with her mother is tense as she struggles to understand why her mother won’t talk to her about the past, as until their past is resolved, there can be no future.

Will these three women, all living under the same roof after two decades adrift be able to put aside the past and find harmony in the present together?

My review

After spending last Christmas in the South of France, Gabriella and her granddaughter Elodie have finally moved permanently to Juan-les-Pins in the South of France. Even if the relationship is still strained, also Gabby’s daughter, and thus Elodie’s mother, Harriet is moving to Gabby’s childhood home.
Harriet hopes that she can have a chance to make amends, and make Elodie forgive her for abandoning her daughter.
But all that Elodie want is to understand why she was left behind. Because no matter how amazing Gabby looked after her, a young girl always wants her mother.
And all that Gabby truly wants, is that the people she loves the most find their way back to each other.  

After finishing Christmas On The Riviera, I was left with many unanswered questions. While it ended on a rather happy note, there were still unfinished business, and I needed to know what would happen once the women made their move.
Yes, I know these are all fictional characters, but it only shows how easy it is to get invested by the characters written by this amazing author. 

And obviously, I didn’t get disappointed! 

After finishing this lovely book, I honestly cannot say who my favourite character is. Because they are all three amazing, lovely and strong. Yet they are also vulnerable in their own specific ways and have all endured hardship one way or another.
I thought I would struggle more to like one character, yet having her full story, made me realize that not everything is always as simple as it looks. 

Having three generations living together under one roof cannot be easy, as there is obviously a generation gap. And then there is also the issue of Harriet’s past behaviour.
At first I hade my own judgement ready, yet the more I got into this story of three women trying to reconnect somehow, I could understood each woman separately so well.
I comprehended Elodie’s need to know, but also her keeping her distance and not fully trusting her own mother. 

But I also understood Harriet, after knowing what she has been through, trying to bond again with her daughter. But also with a blast from her past, her wish to do the right thing and respecting Elodie’s boundaries, and not rushing into things, made me see Harriet in a whole different, better, shinier light. 

And then there is Gabby, the matriarch of the family, whose greatest wish is to see her family united again. But as being older, she is also wiser and knows such things need time, from each side.  

It was lovely walking around in Juan-les-Pins again, discovering new places, meeting new and old friends and most of all seeing three women building a new life, starting a new adventure, together.
This story felt like while going back to the past, it allowed the characters to make great positive steps towards the future. 

Obviously there is some romance in it too, some not so surprising, yet others were. But the focus of love was that between these three women. Love that despite error and trial never disappeared but also love that needed to be reconquered. It made me realize that  love comes naturally, but also needs to be fought for. It can be a difficult fight, yet the result is a very rewarding one. 

I found this a wonderful return, where many burning questions were answered but also with several beautiful surprises. There were also some developments that weren’t that surprising however still amazing to read them.
It was truly marvellous to read how the strained relationships between these women slowed changed and it warmed my heart to see that in the end, it’s never too late…

A day without a laugh…

Synopsis

Comedy is everywhere if you allow yourself to see it—to feel it. It can be subtle or overt, dark or joyous, adorable or cheeky. Such ageless versatility is beyond compare. Curated with that in mind, author R.A. Clarke proudly presents sixteen humorous stories to the world.

Between these covers, you’ll find short fiction in several genres. Each tale is infused with unique characters and comical situations, some rooted in reality, others certainly not. Flip the page and join a jewel heist executed by bumbling thieves at a gastronomy party, meet a lowly soul gifted the fantastical chance to redo an all-consuming moment of regret, or sweat alongside a father as he realizes his daughter is growing up too fast. Turn another page and you’ll enjoy clowning around while meeting Mr. Right, then zoom in on a perfectly focused meet cute, or feel Mother Nature’s wrath as a rebellious fishing excursion goes all kinds of wrong. There is something in this collection for everyone to enjoy, including eight never-before-seen stories.

Allow yourself to be entertained and whisked away. Let humour in all its glorious forms tempt your lips to move. Don’t fight the urge. Embrace it. Go ahead and let your lips twitch.

My review

Everybody laughs, for one reason or another.
In this book, there are sixteen short stories, being all different yet having one common tread: they are all filled with humour. Their genres couldn’t be more different, from a vengeful Mother Nature to the chance to fix a regret from the past. And there is even a poop – story!
A collection of novellas that will put a smile on your face! 

I am the kind of person who needs laughter in their lives. I don’t think I ever had a day I didn’t laugh, laughing at a funny situation or even laughing of my own stupidity.
And while most of the times you see me with a smile on my face (except in the mornings before I had my shot of caffeine…), I was surprised that with reading this book, I discovered so many different kind of laughs.
There is the face-palm laugh, the awkward laugh, the poop – laugh, the ‘my – eyes – are – tearing – up laugh’, and even laughs for the liveliness of objects! 

Obviously, being a collection of stories, as a reader I have a few favourites myself. And no, I will not tell them, because I want you to have your own opinion and figure out which one is your favourite.
But that didn’t take away the fun I had reading each new story. 

The diversity of each story is also a great asset, as you never know where the next story will take you. And while some stories ‘more is better’ would be absolutely the case, it’s also that the ‘shortness’ charmed me even more. 

Being all novella’s in one collection, made it all a quick yet funny read. And I for sure didn’t know that I had so many different smiles and laughter and giggles in me.
And even for those who aren’t fan of humoristic books, they too will find moments where their lips are moving upwards!

When someone is determined to never fall in love..

Synopsis

Mercy Alexander doesn’t believe in love, let alone love at first sight.

There’s one sure fire way of steering clear of heartbreak, and that’s not to get your heart involved in the first place. So what is that irritating flutter she feels every time she sees Brooks Hudson, and why is she finding him so hard to ignore?

Brooks Hudson can’t understand where he’s going wrong.

Doting single father to six-year-old Ali, supportive co-parent with his ex, much-loved friend and respected colleague, not to mention he’s smoking hot. So why is he constantly being dumped, told in no uncertain terms he’s ‘too nice’? Since when was being nice a crime? 

Mercy is in serious need of someone to restore her faith in men, and Brooks needs a girl he likes to stick around long enough for him to believe in love again. But when Mercy’s past threatens to remind her of everything she’s scared of, will love be enough to save the day?

My review

Mercy Alexander is not like any other woman. While most women are looking to find love, Mercy wants to stay as far as possible away from it. There can not be heartbreak when you never allow yourself to love someone. That is a lesson she has learned from a very young age, as the person who should care the most about her, did anything but that.
On the other side there is Brooks Hudson, a loving single father, who cannot understand why he is being dumped all the time. Since when was being ‘too nice’ a downside?
So when Mercy and Brooks meet (again), can they be for each other what they were looking for? Or will Mercy’s past still have a hold on her and their future? 

As this author is not a new acquaintance, I knew that before I started to read that I would enjoy this book, as it takes its readers on a lovely journey yet on a different way. 

Both main characters come with luggage, but for sure Mercy is overloaded with hers.
At the start, we don’t know the details, but we can all see how that one event was the catalyst of becoming the Mercy we get to know.
It saddened me to read how a lovely persona like Mercy was somehow in a downward spiral, going from one fling to another, avoiding commitment at any lengths. 

And while it could have been easy to judge her for acting the way she does, as a reader we know it’s because of her past, and her behaviour does not show her real character.
Her real character emerges when she is with her (chosen) family, her pupils she teaches music to, and the passion she has for music.
And it’s clear that, even subconsciously, she is waiting for the perfect man, patiently waiting for her and worthy of her love. 

That man is obviously Brooks. And boy, did I swoon over this man!!! A man filled with tattoos is not really my cup of tea (a few are okay though!) yet he made me forget about all his ink quickly by being the most amazing father, a great friend, and just a kind and warm person in general.
But he also is facing some struggles, as being a single father isn’t easy, especially combined with his job and him being dumped for being ‘too nice’, or looking like the wrong kind of guy. Are these women crazy??? I would do anything to have a Brooks of my own! 

Despite their not so light backgrounds, this was a delightful story to read, with heart – warming moments but also many hilarious bits in it too.
Seeing how Mercy and Brooks are taking slow steps was really wonderful to read, because despite Mercy’s mindset, they both realize that they have found something unique, worthy of disregarding old ideas they (read: Mercy) had.
In my eyes this only proofs that finding the right person can give us strength to do the one thing that terrifies us the most: to love. 

Unfortunately, Mercy’s past resurfaces, and it broke my heart to see Mercy turn again into that scared little girl she once was. On the other hand, I also admired her courage to finally face that past, and with Brooks by her side she could finally chase that demon away.
And on a more wonderful way, seeing how things were connected in a good way, somehow blowed me away.
Brooks shows us that patience, kindness, openness and just being nice, loving and understanding, will be rewarded in the greatest possible ways. 

Like I said, there is also a lot of humour in it, like Brooks’ ex for sure is a force to be reckoned with, or Mercy’s brother turning out to be even more larger than life! And even the appearances of some people we have met before, made this book even better than it already was!
Of course I found it also hilarious when Mercy and Brooks realize that their encounter now isn’t their actual first encounter and that they *know* each other very well (if you get what I mean 😉) 

I found this book a delightful, heart – warming one, but also a strong one. Because it shows us that people can go through some rough things, and find it difficult to completely overcome them. People do strange things to protect themselves.
But just like with Mercy, solace and courage can be found. Not only with love, it for sure has a very strong power, but also (and maybe a bit neglected in this review as I can for sure appreciate it but not having a talent for it) music can be what keeps us moving on.
A wonderful story about broken yet strong characters finding each other and learning to open themselves for love (again).

An intriguing thriller!

Synopsis

Heist. Abduction. Blackmail.

Manchester detective Becky White and her friends at the White Knight Detective Agency take on a case involving the theft of a multi-million-pound Fabergé egg. 

Events quickly escalate, and they find themselves dealing with unscrupulous villains who will stop at nothing – not even at kidnapping or murder – to achieve their goals.

Can Becky solve the mystery before her hidden enemies catch up with her?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faberg%C3%A9-Becky-White-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B0BTXHJC2T/  

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Faberg%C3%A9-Becky-White-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B0BTXHJC2T/

About the author

Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire, UK. She devoured books from an early age, particularly enjoying adventure books, school stories and fantasy. She wanted to be a scientist from aged six after being given a wonderful book titled “Science Can Be Fun”. At eleven, she discovered Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer, and now has an eclectic and much loved book collection cluttering her home office.

Jo combines an exciting career in Clinical Research with an equally exciting but very different career as a writer of psychological thrillers.

When not working, she runs (very slowly), and chats to lots of people. She lives in Manchester with her husband, youngest son, a Golden Retriever/Husky cross and a tankful of tropical fish. She is an active and enthusiastic member of two writing groups and a reading group.

Can ten dates be enough to fall in love (again)?

Synopsis

Is it the end of their love story or just the beginning?

Callum and Alice McClaren have spent two wonderful years building a life and a home and making plans for a future together. But when Alice is involved in a car crash, Callum fears that he has lost her forever. As he sits by her bedside he promises he’ll do anything if only she’ll open her eyes…

But when Alice does finally wake up, she has absolutely no memory of being in love with Callum or the life they once shared. In fact, all she remembers about him is how incredibly annoying he once was! How can she have forgotten him if she really did love him so deeply?

Callum is determined to prove to Alice that what they had was special, so he makes her a deal: he’ll recreate their first ten dates and make her fall in love with him all over again!

Alice isn’t sure Callum can fill in all the gaps in their story.And what if going back to the start only means the end?

My review

Alice and Callum have gone from annoying each other for years to be soulmates for the past two years. Life couldn’t be any better and they are making plans for a future together, a future they never imagined to have.
But a car accident turns all their plans overboard. Callum sit every day by her bedside, praying that Alice would open her eyes. However, when she finally does, she doesn’t remember any part of being in love with Callum, on the contrary… as she only remembers the bits before they got together where no love was involved.
Callum isn’t one to give up and he makes a deal with Alice: he gets ten dates to make her fall in love with him again. Ten dates to recreate their first ten, to proof that their love is special and worth fighting for.
But if Alice can’t remember her ever loving Callum, was their love truly so special? 

This story was one of the sweetest yet also most heart – braking stories I’ve read!
We have all read books where the main characters finally get their happily ever after. But what happens when that happily ever after gets taken away from us? 

I loved reading how Alice and Callum got from enemies to lovers, and as a nice extra, we know that Callum has always been in love with Alice. Is there anything better than that? Oh yes there is… as Callum is Alice’s brother best friend!
And while it would have been nice to read more in details how this power couple did get together, discovering their first ten dates together, seeing how they fell in love in the past (and hopefully again!) was perhaps even better than having an actual prequel. 

This book gave me initially Nicolas Sparks – vibes, and reminded me of ‘The Vow’ movie, but I quickly realized that while there were similarities, this story is very unique, and even more wonderful! 

While reading, I could completely comprehend the state of mind of both Alice and Callum.
Alice wakes up, losing two years of her memory, not knowing if those two years will ever come back. And she finds herself in a situation past – Alice would never have imagined. She bought a house on her own, with plans of renovating it according her plans, and for sure she didn’t think of settling down with someone, the least of all with Callum. 

Yet waking up, with Callum by her side, with her family having no issues of Callum having there, confused her. And I can only try to understand that confusion…
I could comprehend her wanting to be alone, feeling the pressure of everyone around her to remember. And I could completely understand the anger she felt with the realization how many wonderful she has missed/forgotten.
But also her worries that her memories would never return, making her wonder what the right thing to do is. Is it fair to give Callum a chance when perhaps she will only hurt him in the end by not remembering or loving him back? Or will her memory return and can they pick up again where they left off?  

On the other hand, my heart broke for Callum… he finally got the girl, but now has lost her in a terrible way. I cannot decide what would be worse, never had the person you love, or having that person not remember you…
Yet it’s clear from every word, every action how deeply Callum loves Alice. He is even ready to make a deal that perhaps would end up in him having to walk away…
His confidence that Alice will remember him, was so sweet to read about! And the patience he shows, made me even fall in love with him, even if he truly belongs to Alice!  

When this broken couple start to redo their ten dates, I would have thought the dates would be unforgettable. But having the total opposite was perhaps even better than the wine – and – dine dates I imagined. Because with each date it was clearer to see how well Callum knows Alice and that sometimes the most simple dates are the best ones! 

And it warmed my heart to see that Alice, even if she doesn’t remember loving Callum, clearly still reacts to him, even if it’s subconscious.
For me it was proof that even if our head abandons us, the heart will always remember! 

The closer I got to the end, the more afraid I got. Because while the ever romantic in me wished Alice to remember quickly but I also saw that those things cannot be rushed, not even in a book. And those last chapters not only made me cry, broke my heart, but they even made my heart stop for a minute!  

This was a marvellous story to read, about the power of love, and the lengths we would go to have our soulmate by our side again. But not only we would go lengths, we would also show patience and even do the unthinkable for our partner’s sake.
I DEVOURED this book and I even shooed people away who would dare to disturb me! 

But perhaps the author should be a bit worried now, as my expectations will be sky-high from now on! 😊

Going back to move forward…

Synopsis

After a rough year, the last place Lizzie Warner wants to be is Roseford. It may be a picture-postcard country idyll, but for Lizzie it will always hold difficult memories from her past. But when the alternative to staying with her Aunt Bee, owner of Roseford Blooms, is moving back in with her controlling parents – well, the choice is easy.

Simon Treloar was born and raised to be the Lord of the Manor, but now he’s had to hand over his beloved RosefordHall to a heritage charity, he begins to question his usefulness. Can he find a way to make his mark, or is it better to walk away from generations of history and strike out on his own?

When Lizzie and Simon meet, they recognise kindred spirits in each other. But with both questioning their futures, can one magical summer in Roseford help Lizzie and Simon move on from what is holding them back? Or is there too much history on both sides for them ever truly to be happy together?

My review

Lizzie Warner did not have the best year… After her relationship ended, and the joint business has been sold, the cherry on top of the cake is her ending up in an accident when returning to Roseford. How idyllic the place may be, it holds difficult memories for her. But staying with her Aunt Bee is for sure better than staying with her controlling parents.
She is also hoping to avoid Simon Treloar as much as possible, for those same memories. However, that is impossible as Roseford isn’t that big. And Lizzie feels an undeniable affinity with Simon. But Simon has also his own struggles, as Lord of the Manor. He had to hand over Roseford Hall and wonders f he will be able to make his own mark.
With a history between them, is there a future in store for them? Or will it all be over once summer is over?  

First of all, how wonderful it was to return to Roseford! This place stole my heart more and more with each new book, and this new chapter wasn’t the exception.
For those who haven’t read the previous parts, you can perfectly read this as a standalone, but trust me that you will just feel the need to read more about this wonderful place and their amazing inhabitants! 

Lizzie was a confusing character. In the sense that younger and very recent Lizzie was someone I felt sorry for.
When we meet her, she is out of a relationship and she sold her business, and we can see that despite her bravado, it still hurts. After her accident, I could understand why she decided to stay with her Aunt Bee, despite the memories. Because even I felt suffocated by the controlling behaviour of her parents, and her own sister for sure wasn’t any help. 

It takes a while for us to discover what happened years ago, but you can sense it wasn’t something to take lightly. I ah veto admit, my imagination went in overdrive so somehow I was happy that my thoughts were so off! Yet it also shows how things that happened in our younger years still affect us.

Like I said, Lizzie was a confusing character, because the present Lizzie is a lovely person! Yes, she is still in a bad place, but slowly we see her flourish and find herself. Seeing her finding new dreams again and finding the courage to chase them, is truly heart – warming.
Lizzie deserves to be happy again after everything she has been through. 

I was very curious to see how Lizzie and Simon were connected from even before meeting in this book. Again my mind went in overdrive, but again I was happy to be wrong.
Simon is the kind of man who wants to do right without disappointing anyone. Yet he is also his worst judge, as he sees everything he does in a failure. Giving over the Manor was the right thing to do, yet he fails to see that, as he feels that he let down not only his ancestors but also his family. 

However, in everything that he does, from taking his sister’s dog out, looking after his nieces, to still being protective towards his adult sister, we see what an amazing and caring man he is. 

The thing I liked the most about this story was how alike Lizzie and Simon are. Not only are they both still finding their feet, but also how they were as teenagers. They both were always the odd ones out, and had the same struggles and insecurities.
Insecurities that sometimes still arise as an adult, allowing them to make mistake that made me facepalm several times. But that added only to the charm of this book. 

Lizzie and Simon are connected by a past that still haunts Lizzie, but seeing each other again is what makes it possible to put their past behind them, and get closer together, stronger. 

Obviously we see some old friends again, and having those small injections of previous books was marvellous. But even if you don’t know them, you will still appreciate those moments!

Fay Keenan delivered again a sensational story, with realistic characters that find each other after dark moments. Because even if Simon is the Lord of the Manor, this story could be about anyone of us, as we all have been through what Lizzie and Simon have bene through somehow. But they show us that by not only finding each other, but themselves, they are able to see what their dreams really are. And just like them, we also can find the courage to start afresh and even find happiness in a place we never expected to find it.

A curse that brings more than just bad things…

Synopsis

Escape to the Scottish Highlands with a brand new spring romance from bestselling author, Julie Shackman

*Julie Shackman’s brand new romance The Cottage in the Highlands is exclusively available on First Reads for November*

Determined to overcome a family tragedy, Elle Cassidy decides to reopen her late mother’s ailing newsagent as a stationery shop in the quiet Scottish town of Fir Haven.

But when the arrogant yet handsome crime writer Dexter Grayling almost runs over Elle in his beast of a sports car, the town is thrown into a tailspin – especially when Dexter claims that local resident Linda Carlucci has put a curse on him and he is no longer able to write.

Can Elle put aside her dislike for the self-absorbed writer and help Dexter uncover what is really going on with the Carlucci family? And in the process will Elle realise that there’s a lot more to her beloved Fir Haven than she first thought…

For fans of Donna Ashcroft, Jane Linfoot and Rachael Lucas.

My review

After losing her parents in a terrible tragedy, Elle Cassidy wants to reopen her mother’s newsagent as a stationery in shop.
Living in the quiet Scottish town of Fir Haven, Elle knows everyone and everyone knows her.
But the quiet quickly changes as famous crime writer Dexter Grayling has moved to this town. And when he nearly runs over Elle and local resident Linda Carlucci with his sports car and even diminishes his actions, Elle for sure makes it clear that such behaviour is not appreciated.
Despite her dislike for the man, Elle finds herself helping Dexter with his claim of being cursed after the incident and now the famous writer no longer can put words on paper.
While trying together to discover if there is really a curse and learning more about the Carlucci’s family, Elle also learns more about Dexter and realizes that he isn’t as arrogant and obnoxious as she thought… 

I am not the type of woman who believes in curses. So just like Elle I was very sceptical with Dexter’s claim that Linda Carlucci had cursed him.
Also it didn’t help that Dexter didn’t make a great first appearance and his behaviour for sure was not a nice one. 

Elle’s tale is a sad one, and it made me understand better her fierce reaction to Dexter’s driving skills. I can only try to imagine the pain she felt after losing her beloved parents. It saddened in a way to see how she submerges herself in work. Having a focus is all good and well while grieving, but Elle was too focused on the job, not allowing herself to grieve properly in first place, and just to live again. We see this also in other events, where she is too focused, has too much on her plate 

And while initially she isn’t all too happy to help Dexter, as she only does it to please her Grandma, we see the real character of Elle slowly submerging again. An Elle that is passionate, determined, and has a great heart for not only people but also for the lovely place she is living in.  

Her dislike for Dexter is very understandable, as I said earlier, he doesn’t make an effort to be liked in his first appearance.
And I have to admit, his behaviour didn’t always make me change my mind about him. Most of the time he keeps behaving like a VIP, a privileged person, not always taking other people’s feelings in account.
So why would we even try to like him? Well, because it’s the moments where he shows his vulnerability, or when he shows a gentler side, that make up for all the lesser likeable moments. 

Another admission is that I was perhaps more invested in the curse itself, and not the evolving relation between Elle and Dexter.
I was intrigued by it. Was Dexter truly cursed? And why? Along with Elle and Dexter I wanted to know  more about not only Linda Carlucci, but also about her past and what her family had to endure. 

I found this a wonderful mix to read. On one hand we have Elle and Dexter on an emotional level, after an initial standoff, getting to know each other better and even develop feelings. And on the other hand we have the mystery of the curse, and a past that affected many inhabitants of Fin Haven. And why not, let’s also add a community ready to save a nature reserve.
And while there may seem to be happening a lot at once, the whole story takes its time to develop properly, letting the readers comprehend each character, each event better. 

Reading this book was exactly what its title says, an marvellous escape with evolving and maturing characters all in an idyllic Scottish setting that made me want to go there! And even the threat of a curse could stop me from reading!

When everyone suddenly needs the help of the black sheep of the family…

Synopsis

The course of true love never did run smooth, but with Phoebe MacLeod it always gets a chance. Perfect for fans of Jo Watson, Mhairi McFarlane and Portia MacIntosh.

The black sheep is coming home for her sister’s wedding.

One week with the whole family in one house.

What could possibly go wrong?

Poppy is a therapist. You’d think her parents would be proud. But Poppy is the type of therapist that makes her mother cringe – she helps people with their, ahem, bedroom problems…

Normally Poppy deals with her difficult family – two parents, one brother, a couple sisters and an assortment of nieces and nephews – by keeping a county or two between her and them. But with her little sister about to get married there’s no avoiding the week-long family holiday in Cornwall.

The trip was always going to be a catastrophe, but Poppy never imagined how much her family needed her professional skills… Nor did she expect to meet a sexy surfer on what was supposed to be the most unromantic holiday ever.

Can a nightmare holiday lead to the love of a lifetime?

My review

Poppy is great at her job as a therapist. However instead of having proud parents, especially her mother feels ashamed of Poppy’s career as a sex therapist.
But it’s not only her job that turned Poppy into the black sheep of the family, as with each relative the relationship is strained.
So obviously, spending a whole week with them for her little sister’s, isn’t something Poppy is looking forward to…
With the expectation that it will all end in catastrophe, Poppy is shocked to see how her family is seeking her advice…
And then there is Sam, her sexy neighbour Sam, teaching her how to surf. But will things remain platonic between them? 

I always know beforehand that I once I start reading a book from this author, that I will be enjoying it from start until the very end.
And this book for sure wasn’t an exception. Or perhaps an exception in the sense that I devoured it even faster than Phoebe’s Macleod’s other books! 

When we meet Poppy, it’s crystal-clear that she is amazing at what she does. She sees the struggles in a couple and without admonishing them, she is able to make the relationship work again.
Yet she also finds herself in awkward, hilarious situations where for example one patient tries to do something right but misses the mark completely. I can only try to imagine the horrendous object he bought while trying to spice things up! 😊 

While she is a real competent therapist, it infuriates me to read how her own family acts towards her. First of all there is her mother, who is truly ashamed of Poppy’s job, even if she doesn’t even know what the job consists of…
And the strained relationship between the siblings made me sympathize with Poppy even more.
Why can’t they all see the great person that Poppy is, instead on hanging on to prejudices and the past (which was totally innocent!). 

Obviously from the moment the family holiday starts, I was in Poppy’s corner. Poppy tries to stand her ground against everyone, but we also see how difficult it is to keep the peace. Because just like everyone in the world, Poppy loves her family, even if they don’t understand her. 

And then the real fun begins… 

It is just hilarious to see how Poppy turns from some kind of pariah, with a job nobody, especially the groom’s parents, must know about, to the confidante.
Somehow, everyone suddenly needs Poppy’s advice. Well, if Poppy were more like me, and she would be a petty person, well, they could all go f*ck themselves and sort their own issues!
But Poppy isn’t that kind of person, and even in situations she herself feels uncomfortable in, she tries to help anyway she can. 

There is a bit of romance in this book, but Poppy meeting Sam isn’t the main focus of this wonderful book. While seeing Poppy sneaking in and out of the house like a teenager, even taunting her mother with it, kept putting a smile on my face.
But also seeing Poppy and Sam growing closer, with the extra help of someone from Sam’s side, made me keep smiling. 

But the main focus of this story is on the family. Phoebe Macleod captures perfectly the dynamics of a normal family, even if in this case it’s taken a little bit to its extreme.
Just like in reality, Poppy’s family members are all different from each other, and while they all love each other, they aren’t all on the same page.
However, we all should appreciate and respect each other, and sometimes even take the time to listen to each other and even get to know each for real…
This important message arrives very loud and clear, surrounded by a great layer of (un)intended humour!