A new start that turns out more unexpected than expected…

Synopsis

Thirty-five years ago, tragedy forced Bev Cooper to cut short her university studies and seek refuge in her hometown of Bellbird Bay. Today, as the owner of the thriving Pandanus Garden Centre and Café, Bev has moved beyond the past and is happy in her solitary existence.

Following the tragic death of his son’s wife, Iain Grant takes early retirement and moves with his devastated son and granddaughter to the peaceful coastal town of Bellbird Bay hoping it will provide the change of scene they all desperately need.

When Iain’s son accepts a position at Bev’s garden centre, the pair find themselves drawn into each other’s lives. But as they begin to enjoy an unexpected attraction, issues from the past threaten to derail their growing relationship.

Will the healing atmosphere of Bellbird Bay work its magic and provide a second chance in life, or will Bev find it too difficult to put the past behind her and enjoy her own happy ever after?

A heartwarming tale of family, friends, and how a second chance at love can happen when you least expect it.

My review

As far as anyone knows, Bev Cooper has never been in a relationship with anyone. She lives for her business, the Pandanus Garden Centre and Café and is happy in her solitary life. But no one knows that thirty – five year ago, Bev got her heart broken and that made her move to Bellbird Bay.
Iain Grant has recently taken earl retirement, after his son Bryan has lost his wife and is now a single father. The three of them move to Bellbird Bay to be away from all the reminders of what they have lost.
And when Bryan starts to work at Bev’s garden centre, Iain and Bev start to feel an attraction they haven’t felt in years.
But how far in the past is the past? And will Bev believe that she deserves another chance at love? 

Returning to Bellbird Bay is always an amazing trip. With each new story I fell more and more in love with the place and its magic, making me want to pack up my bags and make the move myself! 

This story begins with loss and grief, when we learn that Iain has lost his daughter – in – law and is now looking after not only his depressed son, but is also looking after his lovely granddaughter Mia.
I understood the decision he made to make a (temporary) move to Bellbird Bay, as everything would remind the broken family what they have lost if they just stayed.
It was a needed decision but also a courageous one, because it’s not easy to leave just everything behind and start a different life. 

But while Iain’s story may be a sad one, it was Bev’s tale that just broke my heart… First of all because it was so unexpected, as Bev seems so put together, happy with her life. But also because it shows that loss can take a long time to heal.
And then I am not talking about some serious revelations towards the end! 

Both Bev and Iain haven’t been the luckiest people when love was being distributed in the past, while them being so wonderful, kind, gentle and warm, they deserve all the love in the world.
And even when Bev shows some jealousy towards the many happy couples in Bellbird Bay, we could all see where she was coming from, and I had my fingers crossed she would find the courage to take that second chance at love. 

Without giving any spoilers here, I was amazed how Bev somehow deep down inside knew the truth before it even was proven as a fact. It shows that the heart knows more than we can imagine.

I truly like how Maggie Christensen writes lovely stories, making age just look like a number. Because it doesn’t matter how old or young you are, we all deserve a chance at love!
And seeing Bev and Iain getting closer, relying to each other for help, was just an injection of happiness. 

It wouldn’t be fair towards the other amazing stories if I would claim that this story was my favourite one, but it for sure had that little extra. Was it because both main characters are showing an amazing understanding? Or because they are amazing characters despite what they had to endure? I cannot say it was just one specific thing, as it was the complete story that captured my heart, showing the good in people and the good of (falling in) love…

When are we really ready for second chances?

Synopsis

‘When the world says “give up”, hope whispers, “try it one more time”.’

Callie’s always been the least ambitious of her sisters but also the happiest, until fate snaps her fiance before they can say I do.

One year later, she is still putting her life back together, but she might be ready for more. With so much life left to live, she has to find a way to be happy.

Nathan knows not everyone gets a second chance at life and he’s not going to waste his. He’s left the city behind, moved to Cornwall and is starting over. When he meets a beautiful woman at the beach it feels like fate, but her heart belongs to someone else.

Could Callie and Nathan be just what the each other needs?

My review

Callie never cared that of all the siblings, she was the less ambitious one. It was also that lacking ambition that made her the happiest of the sisters. At least, that was until one year ago, until that terrible day that her fiancé had died on what was supposed to be the happiest day for them.
Even after a year, Callie is struggling with putting her life back together, but slowly, and with the help of her family, she feels that perhaps she is ready to move forward.
But having loved and lost, Callie is not ready to make another chance at love, no matter how much she likes Nathan, who has recently moved from London to Cornwall. Nathan realized that he is a lucky man, haven got his own second chance. A second chance he is ready to accept with both hand, also leaving room for romance. Yet no matter how much he likes Callie, he knows that Callie’s heart belongs to someone else… 

With each book I read from this author, I am fully prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, filled with both happiness and sadness.
I know that the main characters will have to face heart-breaking things before even just hoping for a happy end. 

And what Callie went though and how she is still carrying her pain around, truly broke my heart too…
When the story takes off, it seems that Callie just has it all, and it is going to be the happiest day of her life, marrying the love of her life.
But fate has other ideas, and turns what supposed to be a glorious day into the most terrible one. 

As I haven’t experienced such loss myself (and I hope I never will…) I could only try to understand how Callie felt not only those first moments, but throughout the whole story. How can someone overcome such a loss and move on?
I think that I would be a lot like Callie in that situation…  

It saddened me to read how she kept feeling, not seeing the beauty of life. And I liked it how the author managed to make her readers understand how that guilt makes someone feel. How can you be happy again when you have lost best thing you ever had? How can anything surpass what we once had? 

But surrounded by her amazing family (Callie just has the best family someone could have!), slowly Callie is coming out of her shell again, finding her passions again and realizes that moving on doesn’t mean you’ll ever forget.
And seeing the real Callie submerge again, was just wonderful to read. On top of that, seeing how Callie starts to make even courageous plans, in remembrance of her loved one, but also for herself. 

While Callie shows courage on many levels, it made me sad how love was out of the question. And that made me see that no matter what steps you take to overcome your grief, or how courageous you are, allowing love back in is the most terrifying step to take, no matter how amazing Nathan is.. 

When we meet Nathan, he has been through a terrible time too, and is now ready for his second chance at life.
What I liked the most about him, was his ability to see the beauty in everything. He knows how lucky he was and he wants to enjoy life at its fullest and show the world how grateful he is for the gift he received.
But he also is a very understanding man. While he starts to fall very quickly in love with Callie, something he cannot explain himself, as that is so out of character, he also understands Callie. And he respects her choices.
And he is the kind of character not afraid of changing his mind, after hearing a total different vision.  

Reading how Callie and Nathan grow closer truly warmed my heart, as these people truly deserve a second chance at happiness and love. Even only knowing each other for a rather short time, they both feel so strongly about each other, if only they would allow those feelings (especially Callie) 

It took me a while for the penny to drop what exactly happened, but once it did, everything did just make sense…
And I understood Callie’s reaction and her fear, but I also found it very beautiful how the story made a full circle. 

This story has a rather slow pace, but it needs that slow pace. We as a reader need to see and understand that feelings and moving forward cannot be pushed. Callie, but everyone in general who has faced a great loss, needs to take her own time to move forward. It can take a week (okay, that’s very optimistic…), a month or a year. You cannot rush someone to stop grieving, as it’s a whole process that needs to be endured. The only thing we can do is stand by that person’s side, showing our unconditional love and support. And slowly, at the right pace, that person will see the beauty of life again, with a heart that has been broken, but is slowly healing again however never forgetting. 

I found this a wonderful book that made me smile but also made me cry. I knew that I would get emotional over this book, and even after reaching the end, it made me reflect what not only grief can do to a person, but also love and a shot at a second chance. And that mixed with a great amount of courage for the characters, turned this book into a marvellous and memorable one…

What better way for a crime – writer to find her mojo back with a real – life mystery?

Synopsis

Jilted by her soap opera fiancé, crime writer August Saunders decides to return to her roots in rural Wiltshire. Determined to reignite her writing mojo, she rents a desk in a shared workspace in local Futtingbrook Farm.

The converted barn comes with a motley array of fellow users, including a matchmaker, a TikTokerwith a dodgy nocturnal side-line and an ethical clothes designer – causing August to realise she doesn’t have far to look for real-life plot fuel!

There’s also a real-life mystery for her to solve. Why is Max Ronson, the handsome but volatile owner, so evasive about his past? And who or what is he hiding on the premises? 

As August begins to unravel the shadowy secrets of Futtingbrook Farm, will her curiosity snuff out the spark of romance – or ignite it?

Nicola May uses her inimitable style to convey love, grief, and happiness, making Futtingbrook Farm as beloved a location as Ferry Lane Market or Cockleberry Bay.

Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Sarah Morgan, Jill Mansell,and Cathy Bramley.

My review

August Saunders didn’t expect to return from London back to Wiltshire with a broken heart. And how can she mend her broken heart when her ex seems to be enjoying his life, and it’s all splattered in the gossip sections?
Feeling lost, alone and without inspiration for her next book, she decides to respond to an advert for a shared workspace in a barn.
The Futtingbrook Farm offers a gym not that well equipped, a catering service best to be avoided and a bunch of fellow users, with their own reasons for renting a space.
Slowly August is finding her mojo back, thanks with the mysteries surrounding the place. What is the TikToker doing during the night?
And what about the owner of the Futtingbrook Farm, Max Ronson? Why doesn’t he want to talk about his past? And what else is he obviously hiding?
And why does August, despite her suspicions, finds herself attracted to him?

Okay, this is an easy review for me, because Nicola May did it again. Just when I think that she has reached her peak, and her best books have been out, she comes again with a great story and gets me hooked from the first page! 

From the start I sympathized with August (although, I was a bit confused initially as I kept thinking that August was a male name 😊).
She truly loved her ex and it’s obviously very difficult for her to just start thinking about moving on.
With a gentle push from her sister, she decides to rent out a space at The Futtingbrook Farm and then it all takes off.

I was amazed by how easy it all felt at The Futtingbrook Farm. While It could have been a case where everyone just works and doesn’t interact with each other, it felt like a warm, welcoming place, even if the catering services were… well I’ll let you discover that yourself!

Being a crime – writer, I perfectly understood August’s investigating wish, wanting to know exactly what is going on at the Farm. And while maybe I didn’t completely agree with her snooping around, I saw where she was coming from.

Slowly we see the real August again, a caring woman, not afraid of her own sexuality, but also with a tender heart. She doesn’t hesitate to help out for a good cause and when she starts volunteering, well, it melted my heart and I loved August even more!
And then her attraction towards Max…

Max is not always the easiest character to like. One moment he is super nice, and the next he is being an utter sh*t. And what about all that mysterious behaviour? It’s clear that it’s something dodge that is going on!
When he is being nice, he is truly easy to like. I loved the banter he had with August. And I could for sure understand the attraction.
But when he is being at his worst, it was really hard to like him. But the better I got to know him, the more I understood that he has his own problems to face, and doesn’t always choses the right way…

This book is filled with hilarious bits, beautiful moments, heart – breaking pieces and with heart – warming actions. A character like August shows us that behind everything, a whole story is hidden. And that events of the past can make us take wrong decisions but always with the best intentions. It’s easy to condemn those who are in the wrong, but it’s better to help them out and not push them deeper.

Nicola May wrote a story that is a slow build – up, but in the end you cannot not be happy about what you have been reading! This was for sure again a marvellous book and I cannot wait what else she has in store for us!

What you can discover when helping out a friend

Synopsis

The start of brand-new Cozy Crime series! Welcome to Hopgood Hall.

An unlikely duo…

When investigative journalist, Alexi Ellis, falls victim to cutbacks, she and Cosmo, her anti-social feral cat, head for beautiful Hopgood Hall, where they plan to lick their wounds in the boutique hotel run by her old friends, Cheryl and Drew Hopgood.

A missing woman…

But when she arrives Alexi discovers Cheryl and Drew both distraught. Their close friend, Natalie Parker, who recently settled in the area, has gone missing. Alexi’s sure the woman has just taken a trip somewhere, but she still has a nose for a story and agrees to look into it.

A case to solve!

So too does ex-Met Police detective turned private eye, Jack Maddox. Natalie Parker had been using his sister’s online dating agency and Jack needs to find her before his sister’s business is ruined.

Reluctantly, Alexi, Jack – and Cosmo! – join forces to find out what happened to Natalie. But soon they discover secrets that someone desperately wants to make sure are never revealed!

Perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Frances Evesham and Emma Davies.

My review

When Alexi Ellis is suddenly without a job as an investigative journalist, she decides to head over to Hopgood Hall with her feral cat Cosmo. Staying with her friends Cheryl and Drew Hopgood at their boutique hotel, will be the perfect opportunity to gather her thoughts.
While Cheryl and Drew are happy with Alexi coming over, they cannot hide their worries about their friend Natalie Parker, who seems to have disappeared.
Wanting to help her friends who have been nothing buy helpful, Alexi decides to try to figure out what happened to Natalie.
But she is not the only one looking after Natalie, so is ex – Met Police detective and now Private Detective Jack Maddox. Because Natalie has been using his sister’s online dating agency…
The more Alexi and Jack, and also Cosmo, are discovering from Natalie, the more they realize that someone does not want that Natalie’s secrets are revealed at all… 

When I am reading books, I am not always completely surprised by the revelation of secrets some characters have. Of course, I haven’t always figured out things completely, but I always have a hunch of what may come.
But with this book, the author kept surprising me with new mysteries and new discoveries. 

The book starts with Alexi ‘fleeing’ to her friends after not only losing her job, but also feeling betrayed by her boyfriend, as he was aware of what was happening.
I always like it when a character has a need to get away from what is seen as ‘home’, as it is a great chance for not only the main character to discover wonderful new places.
Of course I also completely understand that Alexi has the need to just go away from everything, to think about her life and what she is going to do next. 

Even if she feels like a terrible friend, as it has been too long since she last saw Cheryl and Drew, she is in fact a great friend. Cheryl and Drew are having worries of their own, so Alexi is ready to help out however she can. She thinks together with them how the hotel can be saved, but she also wants to help them by discovering what happened to Natalie, a woman she doesn’t even know. And that all just because Cheryl and Drew are worried… 

I liked it how Alexi and Jack found each other, as they want to know the same things, even for different reasons. While Alexi does it for her friends, Jack is doing it for his sister. And it shows exactly what Jack’s character is like. He wants to help out his sister, on his own free time, without getting any money from it, even if he is a private detective.
Even if Jack is a great man, with a good gut feeling, it made me laugh reading how a typical man he was, not seeing obvious signs, only when Alexi tells him, he sees how he has been misunderstanding his partner at work… 

Natalie was from the beginning an enigma. We don’t know a lot of her, only that she lives on her own, has her own small business, doesn’t have many friends, and that she only recently has been using Jack’s sister’s dating agency. 

Initially I thought that the mystery of her disappearance was an easy one to solve, but the more I read, the more I realized that in fact, how well do we know the people around us? And not only friends, but also family… Can we ever for 100% know what someone’s thoughts are? That was a terrifying thought, especially when the truth came out… it left me flabbergasted seeing what a turn life can take by one event… 

As I am a rather impatient person, I had the urgency to discover the truth and its depths as soon as possible and seeing all those twists and turns this author made, just made me keep reading. 

Even if the main event is the mystery of Natalie, I also absolutely enjoyed the lighter moments in it. Cosmo for sure stole my heart, even being the most anti – social feral cat ever, how can you not love that cat? Cosmo shows more doglike behaviour, making each appearance even more hilarious, but also shows that even animals, how small or big they are, have a great intuition and can become very protective towards humans and animals they like!
For me, Cosmo stole the show! 😊 

I also appreciated that the author didn’t turn the story too much into a romance. It would have been rather easy as the attraction between Alexi and Jack sparks from each page, but the focus remained on discovering what happened to Natalie. And whatever would happen to Alexi and Jack and their feelings, was important, but not the common thread. 

I feel that this is the great start of a very promising series and I cannot wait to discover what new adventures are waiting for these lovely main characters!

Can you really find love on a reality show?

Synopsis

Welcome to Bumblebee Barn, home to wonderful animals, stunning views and spectacular sunsets – and resident young farmer, Barney.

While Barney loves his life at Bumblebee Barn – a farm that has been in his family for generations – he’s struggling to find someone to share it with. The early mornings quad biking through muddy fields and the long hours looking after the crops and animals are proving to be a deterrent to finding love.

So when his sister, Fizz – desperate for Barney to find his soulmate – sees an advert for Love on a Farm, a new reality TV show to help farmers find love, he has nothing to lose by applying. Afterall, he isn’t meeting anyone suitable down the traditional route and surely he won’t be picked anyway…?

Thrown into the chaos of reality TV, Barney could never have expected that his whole life would be turned upside down, with buried secrets to be uncovered and his heart on the line. With his family and friends rooting for him, could the magic of Bumblebee Barn heal his broken heart and help him find love on the farm?

My review

Barney has always wanted to work at the farm that has been in his family for generations. But owning a farm, even one as magnificent as Bumblebee Barn, isn’t only sunshine and rainbows. And now more than ever, is Barney longing to find someone to share his life with, even if the hard work isn’t really just anyone’s cup of tea.
So when his sister Fizz persuades him to apply to participate in a new reality show, to help farmers to find love, what has Barney to lose?
And television producer Amber is there to reassure Barney that this reality show’s focus is definitely on finding love, and is absolutely nothing like all the other realty shows on television. But what happens when visions shift, and perhaps love can be found for real, only not in the way Barney or Amber expected? 

My dearest Jessica, 

Do you know that I recently got another job? And like you for sure know, those first weeks are very hard, as you have to start from scratch, and when you return home after another chaotic day, you just want to get a rest? 

So if you know all the above, why on earth did you write an another WONDERFUL book that I just couldn’t put away???
I needed my sleep as I was exhausted when I could finally shut down the computer at work and get home. But noooooooo, you just let me stay awake for hours, hours which I could sleep, reading page after page after page.
Well, I guess I could be glad that Belgium didn’t run out of tissues? 😊 

While this is a brand new series, I loved seeing glimpses of Hedgehog Hollow, seeing my dear friends again, even if the focus wasn’t on them.
The whole focus was on Bumblebee Barn, and Barney and his quest for love. And just like with Hedgehog Hollow, I have fallen completely in love with Bumblebee Barn! 

First of all there is Barney… I never thought that another fictional character could steal another piece of my heart, but he for sure did!
He loves being a farmer, he is a great brother, and an amazing (grand)son. He is one of kind, and while I understand the hardship of working on a farm, I just couldn’t comprehend how he could be still single. If I knew he was, I would have gone to Bumblebee Barn and show him that he and I would be a perfect match! 😊 

But it’s also clear that something happened to him in his past that left him heartbroken, not allowing him to fall in love again.
And while the author for sure took her time to make the great reveal (thanks for that Jessica…), when the story was out, my heart broke for the poor man… 

Being single myself for too long, I could understand wanting to give the reality TV show a shot. If nothing else worked in the past, why not give a show a chance? 

This story isn’t only about Barney… Because Amber is the television producer of the reality show. And I liked it how integer she is. She loves being on the countryside, and only works as a producer in shows she believes in. And I could see why she accepted on being on the show, as she was reassured that the focus would be on actual finding love and not creating scandal. 

However, the novelty of the show isn’t the only reason Amber accepted this job. She does tis to be closer to her little sister, who is filming far from home after something ominous happened a few years ago. 

Of course, as a reader we know how we want the story to end, and exactly with whom Barney will find love.
But I found it sweet to see how both Barney and Amber wanted to make the show work, despite their growing attraction.
And reading the bits where they were alone, those moments that from far could seem insignificant but to them were so meaningful, important, well, they made my heart just melt. Because it’s in these small, little moments that we see someone’s real character and we can see what is right in front of us. 

I adored Barney and Amber, but what I also absolutely liked in this book, was how close they both were to their families. No matter what had happened in the past, every member was there when needed. That closeness of each family warmed my heart…and then there is the backstory of where the name ‘Bumblebee Barn’ came from… that for sure was a bittersweet tale!  

Jessica Redland just did it again, she wrote an amazing, marvellous story, about people who are so real, who deserve to find love because of how great they are on their own, but also how amazing they would be together.
This is for sure a slow burn, but that only shows us that it takes time to open our eyes and see what’s around us. But also that it takes time to heal a broken heart (on several levels). However, no matter how long it takes, in the end, it’s worth the wait (and the lack of sleep 😊)!

Even the most wonderful places in the world aren’t spared from horrendous crimes.

Synopsis

Murder in broad daylight…

When millionaire magnate, Rex Hunter is found with his head bashed in on the eighth hole of his prestigious golf and country club in beautiful Chianti, it’s a clear case of murder. Hunter was rich and successful and the envy of many, so retired DCI Dan Armstrong thinks the case will be a hole in one to solve….

A despised victim…

But as Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar begin to dig deeper into Hunter’s lifestyle, they discover a man despised by many. A renown womaniser, ruthless boss and heartless family man, it seems no one is particularly sorry to see Hunter dead. And the list of possible suspects is endless…

A murderer covering their tracks.

Dan is determined to catch this clever killer, but it seems every new lead brings another dead end. Will this be one case Dan and his canine companion won’t solve?

My review

Even while enjoying his retirement in Tuscany, DCI Dan Armstrong has a sense of justice. So when millionaire magnate Rex Hunter is murdered on his golf club, Dan doesn’t hesitate to help out again the local forces.
Together with his loyal canine friend Oscar, Dan discovers that there were more people despising than loving the victim, as Rex Hunter was a known womanizer, a bully as a boss and absolutely not a great family man…
With the list of possible suspects only getter longer by the day, Dan is determined to find the real culprit, even when his own personal matters demand his attention… 

When a beloved author switches genres, it’s always a risk. Because you’ll never know if the new story and genre will be as great as what you have known.
But as this being the second part of a series, I knew even before I started how much I would love this next chapter! And no, I am not biased at all as an Italian! 😊 

Whenever I am reading a mystery, from the cozy type to the more terrifying ones, I always try to figure out myself who the culprit is. And with having often innocent victims, or at least likeable victims, it’s easy to sympathize with the remaining family. 

But I can say with a clear conscious that perhaps Rex Hunter is the kind of person the world won’t miss….
Whatever he doing, from being a father, a husband to just paying golf, he only looked after himself. He wanted the best for him, and losing wasn’t a word in his dictionary. Also the way he behaved towards his own family, or women in general, made me despise the man even more.
However, being murdered isn’t something he deserved… 

What I liked about this story, is how well Dan integrated in the Italian lifestyle. He truly did well adapt into a new life, has made a lot of new great friends, and is a great owner to Oscar. And I also liked it how, even if he is retired, the being a DCI is still in his blood. 

And obviously this amazing author used his magic again, making me feel like I was wandering in Chianti myself. It took a lot of my restraint of not opening a good wine while reading! Or perhaps it were the many twists the author threw, as I kept on being surprised with new revelations (and not all of the good kind), making me question every character. I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was, kept changing my mind at the time. 

T.A. Williams managed to find the perfect balance between the heavy duty of finding a murderer and the lighter moments. And that made this book so easy to read. While I wanted to discover the truth, I also wanted to just walk along Dan and his friends, cuddle with Oscar and enjoying the amazing beauty of Tuscany, with a nice glass of wine. 

I had high expectations, but I already knew beforehand that this story wouldn’t end up in disappointment! And I cannot wait to see what else there is in store for Dan and Oscar!

When you both like an unavailable man and a mysterious online man…

Synopsis

Two people. One desk. A million Zoom calls. What could go wrong?
When Ada and Fraser find themselves freelancing from the same café together every day, they strike up a mutually beneficial friendship. Fraser saves her the best biscuits and Ada protects the best table when he’s running late.
As they work side-by-side Ada can’t help but notice how attractive Fraser is, and how well they get along. But then Ada signs up to an Agatha Christie fan fiction site and she starts chatting with a guy online. His interests are the same as hers, and the anonymity helps them both be more honest and open. As Ada’s messages with the mystery man become deeper and more honest, she thinks she’s falling for him.
Ada is torn between Fraser and Myster-E – but can you have real feelings for someone when you’re virtual strangers?
A modern You’ve Got Mail meets When Harry Met Sally.

My review

It’s been a while now since Ada returned back home with a broken heart. Her mother wouldn’t be more happier to look after her daughter again, but let’s be honest, living back with your mother isn’t the ideal situation.
Slowly Ada is putting her life back on tracks, and has set up her own PR firm, working from a coffee shop where you can rent office space.
When she meets journalist Fraser, Ada couldn’t predict they would become friends, and even go to interesting assignments together. But even when Ada starts to see how attractive Fraser is, and what a nice guy he is, and how well they get along, he is totally off limits, as he seems to have a girlfriend.
And then there is also Myster – E…. a man she has been chatting with on an Agatha Christie fan fiction site. While she doesn’t know a lot about him, she cannot ignore how easy it is to talk openly to him about just everything.
But what can you do when you start falling for two men at the same time, and yet you cannot have neither of them? 

When I started to read this book, I didn’t think the author would manage to surprise me very much. But I was gladly proven wrong! I thought this would be the kind of book that would be a dime a dozen, however it turned out to be much more hilarious, more surprising but also more deeper than expected. 

We all know the dangers about online dating, how to be careful with people we haven’t met in real life. We are surrounded by stories in real life where things have gone wrong.
But we also have read several fictional stories where the online dating turns out to be very quickly the real thing, making it also rather unrealistic. 

But in this book, I found the perfect balance. 

Ada isn’t really looking forward to do the whole online dating stuff, as she knows the dangers of it. But being gently persuaded by her best friend, to get back in the game, she gives in.
Ada gas been burnt in the recent past, and isn’t ready to fall in love again, as her trust has just gone out of the window.
And while I understand her reasons for wanting to stay alone, I also understood why she was being pushed to step outside again. 

Not only from her past, but also by her current behaviour, it is clear that Ada is someone who doesn’t want to hurt other people. She starts dating again because her friend asks her to, even if she doesn’t feel a spark, she continues to see her blind date. She doesn’t tell that same date that hiking is absolutely not something she likes to do.
All signs that she does things because she is ‘supposed’ to do and not because she actually wants to do them.
Also the too many lengths she goes to help her only client, shows again that she does too many things that she shouldn’t be doing. 

So reading how Ada finds an outlet at the Agatha Christie fan fiction site, felt like she finally did something for herself. And having the author to pick a genre that is the opposite of this book, well, for some reason, it put a smile on my face. 

I completely comprehended how easily Ada opened up towards her mysterious friend. Because sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone outside your circle to be able to speak freely but also to see another perspective.
And I liked it how Myster – E turned out to be a great listening ear, but also felt able to open towards Ada himself. 

But Ada also befriends Fraser, a journalist who at first instance stole her ‘spot’ at the coffee shop. And I absolutely liked to see how their friendship evolves from being just people working at the same place, to going to ‘interesting’ events together (I will never think about ‘Ghost’ when someone says the word ‘pottery’ again! 😊), to becoming real friends. 

This story may seem like an easy read, and I for sure relaxed and laughed while reading. But I also felt that the author managed to show us the difficulties in life. Not only finding the courage to trust again, but also finding the strength to do the right things for you, and not the right things for someone else. But also the difficulties and struggles of parenthood, as shows by Ada’s best friend Amal shows that some things are not easy to talk about, even if there shouldn’t be a taboo about it anymore. 

I truly enjoyed reading this book, it is the kind of romcom that makes you relax and put all the hectic of your life on the side and this all taking place in wonderful Edinburgh. I found myself laughing, at moments even feeling surrogate embarrassment, but I also found myself nodding along with each eye – opening lesson and I have found a new amazing motto: “I would fight a bear for you.” Just how amazing is that kind of love???

A past coming back, but in an unexpected way…

Synopsis

Welcome to Pepper Bay. A small close-knit community where you’ll find chocolate box cottages, quaint shops, love drama, and a happily ever after.

Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Phillipa Ashley, and Holly Martin.

The Pepper Bay books are standalone stories that intertwine with recurring characters. Best enjoyed when read in order,

Silver Blooms Flower Shop: Lexi and Bryce have never been friends. She views him as her childhood bully. So, she finds a way to stick it to the fancy-schmancy businessman by using his name as her pen name for the erotic romance books that she writes. That way, when potential clients try to check him out online, all they will see is fishnet stockings, sexy CEOs, and steamy sneak previews. But, when Not-Nice-Bryce comes back home to confront her, their past comes flooding back, and maybe it wasn’t as bad as she remembers.

My review

Lexi has always seen Bryce as part of her childhood bullies. Now as an adult, she has found the way to take some kind of revenge, as she uses his name as her pen name for the erotic romances she writes. By doing so, whenever a potential new client of him does some online research, they will see something they didn’t expect.
Bryce has now returned back home to confront her and demands her to put things straight. But with Bryce being back home, old memories resurface. And Lexi may come to the realization that not all memories were that bad, and that not everything she seems to remember was how it truly was… 

You may know that I am a big fan of the Pepper Bay Series, and how much I loved reading each new chapter. And with each new part in the series I fall in love with more and more characters. So I was very happy when I turned to the first page of this brand new book!
And it left me very sad, when I reached the end of it, because now I have to wait again too long before I can return! 

Starting a new book in a series is always a little bit terrifying… will the author manage to write something different than before, yet keeping the bits that made me love the previous books?
Well, I can say with a clear conscious that I absolutely fell in love with this amazing book! 

Let’s start with Lexi…
While reading her flashbacks, I felt sorry and even pitied her for the kind of childhood she had. Now, she had and still has an amazing family, but her years at school weren’t easy…
I can only imagine how difficult it can be going to school when being bullied. I guess I am a lucky one, never been bullied… 

But reading how Lexi has made it as an adult, made me proud of her. Lexi shows us that despite being bullied, you can become a strong person. And perhaps her revenge may seem petty, well, I couldn’t help but admire how well she thought about it and I found it hilarious to see the results! 

We readers are obviously prepared for the confrontation, but Lexi for sure wasn’t ready to see Bryce again. And reading how the main characters immediately clash again, was hilarious to read! Also reading how they try to outdo each other, was the best thing ever! 

Initially it was easy to see Bryce as the bad guy, bullying Lexi when they were younger. And I was for sure a fan of some sweet revenge.
But again those flashbacks…
They made me see a whole different side of Bryce, showing us that each story has in fact two sides. And while what Bryce did, wasn’t always the right decision he made, it was also typical for a teenager. Because we get to know the doubts Bryce had, and how he wanted to do the right thing, but didn’t always succeed… 

With younger Lexi and Bryce, we see that sweetness, but also the ignorance in a way, that describe perfectly teenage life.
We see how they are struggling with understanding their real feelings, and when they have it finally figured out, it’s too late… 

But with adult Lexi and Bryce, we see that the real thing never disappears… even if many years have passed. However, it’s also hard to decipher if the feelings that we have are genuine, or just a remembrance of those feelings years ago. 

There are so many lovely moments in this book… how Lexi finds her passion by working in Bryce’s Aunt Flower shop for example. But also moments that show us the strength of the character. For I can only admire the bravery in the choice that Lexi made early in the book…
And also the courage it took Lexi to make an important decision later on the book, as at that moment there was too much at stake…
Also Bryce shows what a great guy he is, how he easily accepts what Lexi’s future will be. And by giving Lexi in the end a wonderful gift, showing us that he truly understands and knows Lexi. 

However, there were also a few heart – breaking moments… Like learning how Lexi was being bullied and in which ways. But also learning about Bryce’s family and how he is still haunted by that past…
Those bits were not easy to read, but it made me understand the characters better, made me see where they were coming from and learn how much they have grown. 

This was a wonderful, heart – warming, marvellous story that I couldn’t start reading quick enough, only regretting how quickly I finished it…
It made me realize again that human nature isn’t always logical, as people do (or don’t) do things that make sense, and that hindsight a wonderful thing.
And it made me also believe that Real and True Love never dies and always finds a way…

An unwanted column from a mysterious writer…

Synopsis

In a small town in Oregon, everyone wants to kill the local advice columnist, Mrs Bambi. If only they knew who she was.

Mrs Bambi’s advice is so snarky that people have long since stopped asking for it. Instead she eavesdrops on conversations and writes the letters herself. The readers would lynch her, but no one knows who she is.

In fact, Mrs. Bambi is not a woman. The column is written by Richard, a quiet widower with a young daughter.
The uneventful part of Richard’s life is nearly over: he begins dating Pam, a well-known realtor and a sports addict. When people begin to learn the identity of Mrs. Bambi, Richard is threatened and humiliated in public. Despite the pleas of his editor, his friends, and Pam, he refuses to stop writing the column.
The only thing that can prevent disaster is for the town to finally learn the whole truth about Richard, which is much larger than the simple mystery of Mrs. Bambi.

Set in 1995, Chris Mason’s skillful storytelling brings a tale of humour and romance – and not a little peril – charmingly to life in the mind of the reader.

My review

No one in a small town in Oregon knows that Richard is the writer of the most hated column in their local paper. The community has even stopped writing for advice, but Mrs. Bambi, as Richard calls himself in his column, loves to eavesdrops and gives unwanted, rude advice.
In real life is Richard known as the quiet widower with a young daughter. And in a place where everyone knows everything, it’s not easy to date. And how could he possibly ever explain that he is the hated Mrs. Bambi?
But even when everyone knows Mrs. Bambi’s real identity and threats are being made, Richard doesn’t want to give up on his alter ego…
Because Mrs. Bambi is more to Richard than just a column… 

I have to say, I have never had the need to ask an Agony Aunt for advice, but I have always been curious what advice has been given.
So having a Mrs. Bambi offering her (unwanted) advice was for me a recipe for a book filled with many many laughter. 

Reading those bit were absolutely hilarious, seeing how Mrs. Bambi ridiculed everything and everyone, taking sarcasm to a whole new level.
But Richard’s story was the total opposite of the total fun of the columns… 

First of all I can only imagine how hard it can be to raise a child on your own… yet I admired Richard and the way he is always doing his best for his little girl. And the stories he makes up whenever she wants to hear how her parents fell in love, just warmed my heart. 

And then there is the fact that Richard wants to start dating again. But being out of the game for so long, and having his girl being the top priority (like it should be), and having a community knowing everything of you, doesn’t make things easier.
When he then finally meets Pam, there is the issue of him being Mrs. Bambi. Because how do you tell your love interest that you are the person that everyone seems to hate? 

The more I was reading into this story, the more I realized that Richard’s life isn’t an extraordinary one. Yes, he has a good heart and does amazing things. And when everyone knows about Mrs. Bambi, some terrible things happen to him.
But for me, it felt more like a tale of seeing a real life, where a person tries to find some peace and love, in the midst of chaos. 

I liked how the author added some heavier levels into this story, and turning them into something normal. Like it’s normal for Richard to have friends that are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Why should it matter who his friends love? Because love is beautiful, in any form.
But also his determination to help a shelter for abused women… if only there were more people like Richard in the real world, it would make a great difference… 

This book may have started on a slower pace for me, but in the end, it turned out to be the perfect pace. It was a story that shows all the bits of life, the beautiful ones but also the bits where we are still searching our place in it, trying to find where exactly we fit in and how we can make a difference. And the author also shows us that finding yourself and love is not something that happens overnight; but it takes it time and trust. But with time and patience comes clarity and love…

A chance to prove your worth…

Synopsis

A steamy, hilarious read! Perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn and Penny Reid.

What happens when a New York City playboy, a Southern spitfire, and a hairless cat walk into a coffee shop?

Self-made mogul Chase Moore is a charming hound dog with a hairless cat and a family business to save.
He was fine being the spare to the heir until the family’s billion-dollar business threatens to go belly-up.
Now Chase will need more than his rakish good looks to fight his father for control.
Powerhouse marketing guru Campbell King returns to Texas and launches her own company after being chewed up and spat out by the city that never sleeps,
One phone call makes all the difference when a sauve and sexy male voice offers her the chance to redeem herself and help him save his swanky Manhattan store.
When the sexy redhead finally runs into her new billionaire boss, they’re both in for a shock.
But there’s no way Campbell is dating the boss. In fact, anyone but the billionaire would be better…
Previously published as A Little Moore Action by Sara L Hudson.

My review

Chase Moore is a playboy, uses his good looks to get any woman he wants. But even if he made his own success, he is still seen as the ‘spare’ of the family, and in the eyes of his own father, he is a complete failure.
But when shockingly his older brother walks away from the family business, Chase gets the opportunity to show his worth.
So he hires the best marketing business to help. Enter Campbell King…
This Southern redhead wants to show the world they wrongdoing after disregarding her so easily and wrongfully.
Bell is ready to turn Chase’s family business into a success story. But what neither of them expected was to feel that immediate attraction between them… 

While reading this story, I found myself laughing over several bits. First of all, there was the name of the cat… Initially I didn’t get the joke, but then after speaking the name out loud, the penny dropped and I couldn’t stop laughing.
I also laughed how the above mentioned cat behaves towards Chase at moments. Talking about killing the mood! Drama for Chase, hilarious for the readers! 

But I also have to admit, there were bits that I didn’t like at all.. especially the moments whenever Chase’s father appears in the book… talking about an horrendous character, and a person absolutely not worthy to be a father or even a husband! 

Luckily we have two great main characters, making this story a great read. 

Of course, Chase is an absolute player, thinking with just one part of his body. And yes, as a woman, it’s a bit frustrating to read how he is objectifying women.
And while initially he does the same with Bell, we see his character evolve into a ‘real’ man, a man that wants to get to know Bell for who she really is, and what her feelings are. 

He is also a great brother, well not specifically to his brother, but he is an amazing big brother for his little sister, a protective one. And seeing the two siblings pulling in the same direction, was how every relationship between siblings would be. 

Bell was just amazing from the start. We know that something happened in the past, making Bell more resolute than ever to show the world what she is worth, but it takes a while to get to that revelation.
I liked it how she stood her ground, she was too independent, too proud (in a good way) to just take what she was given.
But what I liked the most about her, was her natural charm. With just being herself, she can even make ice melt. And she isn’t nice with an agenda, she just *is* a nice person! 

Obviously there is an instant attraction between Bell and Chase, and reading their thoughts and seeing how they try to keep their thoughts to their own but sometimes failing, was very funny.
There are some heated moments in this book, it would be strange if there wouldn’t be, especially with all the fantasies (and let’s be honest, haven’t we all had the same fantasies at least once?). 

What I admired in this story, was that the author perfectly described the current world. Because no matter what happened with Bell in the past, or that Bell and Chase are consenting adults, in the end, it’s always the woman who gets an ugly reputation. And I could comprehend Bell for the full 100% why she was holding back, even if in reality she wanted to just give in… 

While the pace may seem a little bit too fast, and the love declaration wasn’t at the most romantic place in the world (however, made it even more hilarious!), I truly enjoyed reading this book. It shows us that love absolutely comes at the most unexpected moments, and that love is worth the risk. But also that with the right person by your side, and a family (or at least the most important members of your family), will stand by your side to do the right thing. 

And as any romantic person can confirm, grant gestures to show your love are never a bad thing to do. And why not, even involve a hairless cat in it! 😊