Just look at this wonderful cover, doesn’t it look promising?
Synopsis
A new start means new neighbours, from present and past…
When Alice discovers her husband has been cheating there are just three things she wants; their gorgeous second home in Yorkshire, their spaniel William, and a quiet life.
But no sooner than she arrives in Great Fencote, strange things begin to happen. A skinny-dipping swimmer disappears without trace, only to pop up behind the counter of a local coffee shop. Someone seems to be crying at night, but she can’t work out who. And equally unsettling is the incredibly sexy builder she employs to turn her barn into a holiday let.
Old houses hide old secrets, but is The Cheesemaker’s House ready to share the tragedy in its past? And can Alice, café owner Owen, and builder Richard, find a way to lays its ghosts to rest for once and for all?
The perfect read for fans of Barbara Erskine, Kate Ryder and Jenni Keer.
The Cheesemaker’s House was Jane Cable’s debut novel and reached the final four of the Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition. Jane now writes under her own name for Sapere Books and as Eva Glyn for Harper Collins imprint One More Chapter.
“The gift here is to make you want to read on.” Jeffery Archer
For a very limited time only, The Cheesemaker’s House is only 99p!
About the author
Jane Cable writes romance with a twist and its roots firmly in the past, more often than not inspired by a tiny slice of history and a beautiful British setting.
After independently publishing her award-winning debut, The Cheesemaker’s House, Jane was signed by Sapere Books. Her first two novels for them are contemporary romances looking back to World War 2; Another You inspired by a tragic D-Day exercise at Studland Bay in Dorset and Endless Skiesby the brave Polish bomber crews who flew from a Lincolnshire airbase.
Jane lives in Cornwall and her current series, Cornish Echoes, are dual timeline adventure romances set in the great houses of the Poldark era and today. She also writes as Eva Glyn.
A wonderful place where dreams can come true, but which dream to follow?
Synopsis
A second chance to realise her dreams…
A classically trained pianist, Steph works as a recording engineer for a small studio when she’s offered the job of a lifetime – travel to the Italian Riviera to help world-famous band, Royalty, record their reunion album after a decades-long hiatus.
Steph could definitely do with the distraction. Her boyfriend – who also happens to be her boss – is increasingly unreliable and erratic, and she’s awaiting news from her doctor after a recent biopsy. So an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy is the perfect escape.
What she doesn’t expect is an instant connection with Rob, the son of Royalty’s lead singer. With her career – and her heart – at a crossroads, what path will Steph follow?
My review
Steph is a classically trained pianist who is working with her boyfriend as a recording engineer for a small studio. When the opportunity of a lifetime rises, to help recording the reunion album of the famous band Royalty, and that on the Italian Riviera, Steph grabs it with both hands. Especially as she needs the distraction herself, with an unreliable boyfriend, and the fear of hearing the results of a recent biopsy. Working with Royalty not only brings her in contact with people she admired for years, but it also gives her the chance to elevate her own career. And then there is Rob, son of the lead singer, which she has an instant connection with. But with her career and her heart pulling her in different directions, which is the right path to follow?
Oh my God, how much I love this author and his stories! Each time I am on a different adventure, and each time I fall in love with the characters and each time I feel at home with the Italian link.
When we first meet Steph, she is already at one crossroads. She feels that her relationship is going only for the worse and as the boyfriend is also her boss, things are even more complicated. So what is the best thing to do? To hang on to a man she loves, but has changed so much? Or end things, risking to also lose a job she loves doing? And there is also the health issue, as Steph discovered a lump and needs more tests to check out what it is. Well, I know for sure that in that instant I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes!
And when the opportunity of a lifetime comes, the book really takes off… Obviously I knew that this talented author would make it possible to let the readers envision perfectly the scenery. And once again I felt like I was walking side by side with the characters. I could see the beauty of the place, I could almost smell the sea and I got actually hungry with each new plate that appeared!
But this story isn’t about the scenery or the food, it’s about Steph and her wonderful opportunity. I was happy for her when she got to meet the band she admired for so long, and I could sense her excitement! Just imagine how you would feel if you were able to collaborate with your idols! To make things even more amazing for Steph, all the members see her talent too and things go even beyond her wildest dreams!
I could also perfectly understand her new dilemma… She gets the chance of a lifetime, with Royalty, but now that she has met Rob, what is the right thing to do? Follow that opportunity or follow your heart? Once again, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes… Because even if Rob initially was standoffish, at the verge of being even rude, slowly Steph and us too, get to know the real Rob. And the real Rob is just an amazing, wonderful and talented man. And he is an understanding one, in more than one occasion. Add the fact he is the owner of lovely Waldorf, what more can you ask from a man???
While things are evolving between Steph and Rob, I liked it how T.A. Williams didn’t let the characters get away with their feelings. Yes, even if at moments I wanted that kiss to be happening now instead of later. But that only gave me a greater satisfaction when it finally did!
The final outcome was the one I was hoping for, yet the ‘how they got there’ saddened me a bit, as it was not that a magical wand appeared and made everything work, but it was somehow at a cost… So gullible Tizi was wondering why Steph couldn’t have her cake and eat it too…
This was again a marvellous book from a very talented author. He took me again on a journey together with great characters. It’s a story about making the right choices, on more than one level, knowing when it’s time to put a halt to things and knowing when it’s time to move forward. And realizing that for some things, it’s never too late… As this is only the start of the Beneath Italian Skies series, I cannot wait to read the rest!
Midwife Ella Mehenick can’t wait to marry the love of her life, Dan Ferguson. They have both waited so long for their perfect day, and they know their future together will be everything they’ve ever dreamed of. But when Ella suddenly and unexpectedly collapses at work – all plans are put on hold.
Dan just wants Ella to get better, but Ella, so used to caring for others, struggles to accept she needs care herself. She doesn’t want Dan to give up everything for her and suddenly the life they dreamed of seems to be slipping through their fingers…
Once rock solid, Ella and Dan suddenly seem further apart than ever before. Can they find a path back to their happy ever after or will Ella’s change of heart risk everything they love?
My review
Midwife Ella couldn’t be happier… she loves her job, she has the best friends in the world and she cannot wait to marry the love of her life, Dan. It took the couple a while to get at this point, but both of them cannot wait to spend their future together. That is until Ella collapses and suddenly their future may turn out the total opposite of what they envisioned. How can Ella, a real care – taker, accept help from others? And it is right that Dan should be giving up everything to take care of her? What once was a couple that was rock solid, is now a couple at loss… And perhaps their happily – ever – after will never come…
This story was one that I did not like at all… Before Jo starts to panic, as I was a fan from the very start of this series, I have to explain myself…
In my eyes, Ella and Dan had their story, had their perfect ending, and everything would go only for the best for them. Because they are just that kind of couple, even all the happiness wouldn’t be enough, as they deserve so much and even more. So reading now a story where things don’t go as I wanted them to go, well, that just a big NO from me.
But I also understand the reason why this story needed to be written… Because while this story is fiction, and Ella and Dan are not real people, Ella’s story is a real story for so many people. And having now an extra voice, can only help the real people out there to make us understand them better.
As a reader, I knew when Ella starts to have some issues, that it wouldn’t be something that would pass easily. And seeing her struggling more and more, not exactly knowing what is happening to her, made my heart clench. And when the diagnosis came, it truly broke my heart. And being just a reader of this story, I can only try to imagine the shock of people who receive this news for real…
I have to admit, I didn’t understand Ella’s actions and reasoning for the full 100%, as it felt she was doing all the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Why wouldn’t she tell her friends, why did she keep on pushing Dan away? But again, who am I to judge, as it is not me who is in that situation? And yet somehow, somewhere deep inside, I could comprehend her too… Because she wanted to protect her loved ones, she didn’t want to become a burden, she didn’t want to ruin their lives by having to look after her.
What frustrated me the most, was that Ella couldn’t understand that loving her means that all the characters, her parents, Dan, her friends, wouldn’t mind to take care of her. Love is a package deal, you don’t just walk away when things get difficult. And the people who love you, won’t look at you with pity…
But I am repeating myself again, as a bystander, it’s always easier to say things like that, but if I were ever in that same position, who knows how I would react…
This is a book with a strong and important theme. Unfortunately health issues are more and more present in our lives, and I don’t think there is one person in the world who doesn’t have a family member, a friend or even an acquaintance without health issues.
And this wonderful author, who broke my heart, put perfectly into words how difficult it can be to come to terms with a life – changing diagnosis. It makes you take the wrong decisions, which you may think are altruistic, but in fact are somehow selfish. You don’t love someone only during the good times, but you stand by their side during the most difficult ones, you work thing out together. But what is as almost as important as standing strong together, is keeping to communicate. Because what sometimes is being done for the right reasons, without communication it can be the wrong thing to do.
I found this a heart – breaking story, but also filled with heart – warming moments. Ella for sure didn’t deserve this outcome, but in truth nobody does in real life… Yet it warmed my heart to see her surrounded by so many people who love her, who would do anything for her even while she kept pushing everyone away. But with this story I am more convinced that before, that love won’t let to be pushed away, even at the darkest and most difficult moments…
I cannot wait to read this boo, but for now the cover will do!
Synopsis
When Stephanie is told she’s pregnant and that she is sick on the same day, she faces an impossible choice…
After trying for a baby for so long, finding out I was pregnant was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But in the same breath as the news I had been waiting years to hear, the doctor told me I was seriously ill.
If I carry my baby to term, I will almost certainly die.
If I proceed with treatment, my baby will not live.
My husband – the father of this child – is telling me to save myself. But with all the secrets I know he is keeping from me, I can’t trust him anymore.
What would you do?
An emotional yet uplifting tear-jerker that will have you reaching for the tissues – perfect for fans of EMMA ROBINSON and JODI PICOULT
Born in Scotland, Emma-Claire travelled the world as the child of military parents. After almost 20 years in Spain, she returned to the UK with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog, Pip. Emma-Claire worked as a journalist for English language magazines and newspapers in Spain and in 2015 launched The Glass House Online Magazine. When not writing emotional fiction, you can find her dreaming up new book ideas or wrapped in a blanket with a book in her hand.
Can in Hollywood the past be truly put behind them?
Synopsis
They’ve made it to the top… but someone is determined to make them pay..
At a glittering after-party on the night of the Academy Awards, author Mirren McLean celebrates her win with her childhood friends Davie Johnston and Zander Leith by her side.
Three kids from a tough street in Glasgow, the dazzling trio rose from the ashes to become Hollywood stars with global fame and vast fortunes.
This is their moment in the spotlight.
But by morning, there’s only darkness.
A secret from their past has come back to haunt them and the shield of stardom can’t protect them from the horrors of their old lives.
Someone is out to destroy them… and unlike the movies, there’s no guarantee that the good guys will win.
My review
Despite their haunting pasts, Mirren, Davie and Zander have found their ways back to each other. What once was a strong friendship, broken by Hollywood, is slowly starting to be rebuilt. All three now feel more at peace and having the old friends back in their lives, is giving them greater comfort than imagined. But their peace is short-lived, as apparently the past has come back to haunt them, in the flesh this time. Someone is after blood and no one is safe, because it isn’t always the good guys that win in the end…
You know what I really hate about sequels? That I am afraid that the kind of happy end reached in Book One will be all undone and that the new course of the story is something I won’t like.
And with the way The Catch starts, I began to feel more worried that my fears would be justified. Because this book for sure started with a literal bang! And there wasn’t only one heart that suddenly stopped beating!
However, even if I wasn’t ready for the new avalanche of events, I just couldn’t stop devouring this book. I just had to figure out who was after just everything that went wrong, if the past truly was chasing Mirren, Zander and Davie, and if their fragile new friendship would be somehow strong enough to survive new disasters.
What I kind of liked in this story, is that the characters didn’t act like nothing happened previously. And it may seem strange to like this, but it would just have been weird if Mirren, Davie and Zander would suddenly become best friends, without any issue. Because that is not how it works in real life. Friendship and trust need to be rebuilt again, and that doesn’t happen in just one day.
Unfortunately, this whole story was not good for my poor heart, as each time it felt a little bit happy, it got again a new batch of bad news to digest. And while I just wanted for our main characters to be able to just move forward… Yes, some decisions made by all three of them weren’t the smartest, but what came on their paths wasn’t in proportion!
Not only did my heart break for Mirren, as it would appear that her past fears concerning her family may be coming back. But also Zander’s issues made me wish that this ‘bad boy’ would proof that my faith in him would be justified, even if evidence claim differently. And I had my fingers crossed that Davie would show the man he truly is, with prioritizing the right things (and that not being the money).
It was not an easy book to read for me, because I am the kind of reader who wants everybody wants to be happy and with the start this book has, I wasn’t 100% sure that I would get the ending that I wanted. But it’s also that intrigue, wanting to know the truth and the ending, how devastating it would turn out to be, that kept me turning page after page (or rather swiping page after page).
And the loyalty the characters have towards each other was a silver lining through the darkest moments. And I am not only talking about our three main characters, but also the characters with a smaller role. This showed me that no matter what, there are people around who will always try to do as what they see is the best thing. And that can be from not exposing a devastating revelation, or trying to help out a friend with a problem.
In many books that I have read, I had figured out rather quickly who the antagonist was. But the authors did a marvellous job on misleading me, as the revelation came as a total surprise. So well done to the both of them!
This was a suspenseful story, letting me sit on the edge of my seat until the very end. But it was also a book that put my trust back in people, even if on some occasions it got crushed. It shows the power of friendship, but it was also about second and even third chances (even in unexpected matters). I loved it how this second book is absolutely not inferior to ‘The Rise’ and it managed to keep up with the pace and the mystery we got accustomed to. A real page – turner that I will gladly recommend to anyone who asks!
A pink hotel with more secrets than who’s owning and also staying in it…
Synopsis
One hotel. One week. And a secret that could change everything.
Ever-optimistic Briony Dalgleish has watched her dreams evaporate. Now, the only way to save her beautiful hotel in the Scottish Highlands is to sell up. In desperation, she agrees to a deal with an American businessman, but when his representative arrives, Briony recognises him as someone she’d rather forget.
American sci-fi geek Zach Somerton is on a last-ditch mission to redeem himself after an epic business fail. If he messes up this time, his career is over. But Scotland’s like another planet, and Zach’s facing crazy locals, bizarre legends, and a woman who’s out of this world. When his boss forbids him to reveal to Briony the real reason he’s at the Loch View Hotel, Zach’s loyalty is tested to the limit.
Forced to work together, Briony and Zach investigate the hotel’s murky past and face up to their own. But getting too close could end their careers. Can Briony and Zach find a way to let in love? Or will secrets and lies crush their chance of happiness?
My review
Briony Dalgeish has always been known for being an optimist. But now, not only does she have a failed marriage, but also her dream to run the Loch View Hotel may evaporate, as she has no way to save it on her own. Her last chance is a deal with an American businessman, hoping that she will be allowed to keep working at the hotel. But her hopes turn into shock when the representative arrives in the form of sci – fi geek Zach Somerton. Because Zach is the same person she met five years ago and felt an immediate click with, only to be left betrayed when she discovered it was all part of a bet. Even if Zach recognizes Briony too, his focus is on a mission to show his worth after an immense fail. But quickly the both of them realize that the hotel has secrets of its own, and in order to save it, Briony and Zach work together. However, the closer they get to the truth, the more they realize that the truth may be the end of their careers… And then there is still that lingering attraction that even time couldn’t diminish…
I always find it lovely yet also a bit tragic when there are characters in a book wanting to do the right thing, follow their dreams, but for some reason or another, they just cannot…
Just like Briony… she loves working in hospitality, but being the owner of a hotel isn’t easy for her. We all know that being an owner of just anything brings more financial problems, but we also all know that once you have a dream, you know you just have to try.
That passion is obvious in Briony, and even if she has no other option than selling the place, I admired how she also cared about the people working at the hotel. She doesn’t make any promises she cannot keep, but she also wants to make sure they are not left in the dark and on their own.
But I admired her also in the romance aspect. On her own she found the courage to leave her scumbag husband, who is even a bigger scumbag than I initially thought (yet also exactly how I suspected him to be). And even if love/lust at first sight is not something I believe is, I admired her how she kept Zach at distance after being been played years ago.
However, Zach, despite his past meeting with Briony, just had something that made me like him. I always have a soft spot for the geeky – nerdy man, as they always manage to surprise me in an amazing way. It’s crystal – clear he feels like a fish out of water in the job he is currently doing. Yet I loved him even more for the reasons he kept the job he dislikes, for a greater purpose. When a man puts his own happiness aside for someone else’s, you know he is a great guy.
And then there is the fact that Zach wants to help Briony, even if it goes against his (or rather his boss’s) wishes. It shows again what a great character Zach is, by doing the right thing and not the thing that has been told him to be doing.
Let that just be what brings Briony and Zach closer, even after the initial clash. With Zach staying at the hotel, and even going beyond by helping Briony on many levels (even against scumbag – ex), Briony sees that her initial feeling of Zach, the one of many years ago, was a correct feeling.
I loved reading how they slowly got together, sticking together and understood each other on so many levels despite the short time they knew each other.
There are several secrets revealed in this story. The one concerning the hotel, and certain valuable bottles, may have an effect on the main characters’ story, but the secret concerning Zach was the most emotional one. For all that, the combination of these secrets made sure that I got the ending I was hoping for.
I found this a great start of a brand new series, filled with a few mysteries, but mainly filled with lovely characters. Characters that through this wonderful story learn to allow themselves to pursue and follow their own dreams and not make the sacrifices for someone else. Characters that learn that following their heart will make them happier than they ever thought. And this all taking place in a wonderful setting. What else could I possibly want more? 😊
Phoebe Dashwood is a passionately committed vet who’s living the dream. She’s about to open her own small animal practice at her grandmother’s animal shelter, PuddleduckFarm in the New Forest.
Phoebe is helped by her two oldest friends. Her best friend Tori is a mix of hard-headed journalist and hopeless romantic, who thinks love will conquer all when she finds the right man!
Then there is Sam, Phoebe’s staunchest ally, whose integrity and selflessness mean he would do anything to make Phoebe happy, no matter what the cost to himself.
Very soon Phoebe discovers that fantasy and reality don’t quite match.
An unscrupulous bunny breeder, a poisoned stream, and a complicated attraction all conspire to throw her dreams in a spin.
Events come to a shocking climax at the New Forest Show where Phoebe’s world is turned upside down and she has to make some life changing decisions.
My review
Phoebe Dashwood has finally opened her own small animal practice at Puddleduck Farm. With her two best friends by her side, Tori and Sam, help is always just a call away. While it may seem that all her dreams have come true, Phoebe knows that life is never dull. Because what to do with a best friend who has just come clean about his feelings, but they are not reciprocated? And what about her own feelings towards a grumpy neighbour? And with being a vet, her mind is always set on protecting animals, even against a breeder with not so admirable intentions… It’s clear that no matter what dreams have come true for Phoebe, there are still many to be fulfilled!
What a delight retuning to Puddleduck Farm and Phoebe her adventures! This for sure was a book I was eager to pick up, as I had too many unanswered question when finishing the start of this series.
Phoebe is still that wonderful person, with a big heart for animals. She always has the animals’ best interest at heart, and goes even beyond the ‘normal’ to protect them from people with lesser good intentions. Seeing her walking on Puddleduck Farm, surrounded by all the animals that love her, shows what a great character she is. But not only towards animals she is amazing, jut in general she is the kind of person we would be lucky to have as a friend.
The fact that she does not want to hurt Sam, even if she doesn’t feel the same, says more than enough. She wants her best friend to be happy, and that makes her think if perhaps her feelings may go deeper or not. Adding to the equation that she is feeling an attraction towards Rufus, turns this story into a sort of love triangle, but where both contenders are amazing people, and neither one of them deserves the heart – break… Because whether I have my own personal preference, I for sure don’t want to be in Phoebe’s shoes…
This story is slow – paced, making it perfect to put a pause on our own hectic lives, and making us enjoy a wonderful read, which is also filled with realities we too often want to ignore.
The issue of the breeder with the focus on just making money and not taking care of the rabbits like they should, opened my eyes to look beyond the cuteness. No matter how cute an animal may seem, cuteness isn’t a indication of good health. And it saddened me to understand through this story how in pain such lovely animals can be, just for our own personal gain.
But there is also the mental health issue. My heart went out to Rufus, as he obviously is still struggling with his panic attacks, but is slowly finding his own way to overcome them. The more I read about his issues, the more it was obvious to me that just everyone can have an attack, and there is nothing to be ashamed about, no matter who you are. But I also understood why Rufus wasn’t ready to talk about to just anyone, as he didn’t want to burden anyone, especially his little boy, with his issues.
The author made also my heart stop when there is a terrible accident taking place. Once it started beating again, it was torn towards two different directions, just like Phoebe’s… I am not going to say more about it, as I want you to undergo the same shock and dilemma as I did!
Reading this book was the perfect time – out, it put my senses at ease, but also made me think about the real world outside, how not everything is as clear – cut.
Phoebe’s story has not come to and end with this book, and I felt like the story got to a point where significant choices have to be made. So while it was delightful to read this second chapter of Phoebe’s new life, I cannot wait to read how her story will evolve even further.
Every castle has its secrets, but this one more than others…
Synopsis
‘Although I believe I will die here in this castle, my spirit will never be silent.’
Ravenscraig Castle, Scotland. 1307
When the castle she works in is sacked by the army of Prince Edward of England, kitchen maid Agnes Fitzgerald manages to escape north of Inverness to throw herself at the mercy of the Lord and Lady at Ravenscraig Castle. Although safe for now, the people of Scotland are fighting hard for their independence, and the threat of the English hangs heavy over the land. But when Agnes spies Cam Buchanan swimming in the loch, her mind turns away from war and towards love. Agnes even dares to dream of a happy future, until she learns that Cam must go and fight alongside Robert de Brus.
Present day
Twins Leah and Zoe need a change, so caretaking at Ravenscraig Castle is the perfect opportunity to get away from it all. Surrounded by rugged Highland countryside, and bordered by a loch, the picturesque setting is everything they dreamed of. But the locals are reluctant to visit Ravenscraig, and there are whispers of ghosts and lost souls. The sisters quickly dismiss such superstition, but soon the overwhelming sadness they feel coming from the tower grows too hard to ignore.
Can the sisters finally right the wrongs of seven hundred years of heartbreak, seven hundred years of betrayal…
USA Today bestselling author Judy Leigh writing as Elena Collins, brings you this heart-breaking and unforgettable timeslip novel, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Diana Gabaldon and Louise Douglas.
My review
Leah and Zoe are typical twin sisters, they are as close as can be. But Leah has been going through some rough time, and getting away from it all may be the perfect remedy. So when Leah gets a job as a caretaker at Ravenscraig Castle, placed in the Highland countryside and bordered by a loch, they set off together. While Leah feels finally at home, it seems that the roles have been switched and now Zoe is finding a hard time to adapt in their new setting. And rumours of ghosts and lost souls for sure don’t help. Even if the sisters dismiss these kind of gossip, they cannot deny that there is *something*… Something that can be linked to the events taken place in 1307, when a young kitchen maid, Agnes Fitzgerald, had to escape from her home to Ravenscraig Castle, while the people f Scotland are fighting for their freedom. In a place where history is being written, filled with fights and threat, Agnes might fall in love with Cam Buchanan. But will their love stand a chance when Cam must go and fight together with Robert de Brus?
I always think that writing dual timelines can be dangerous for an author. Because I am afraid that one story will not have the chance to capture the reader’s heart. And while indeed the main characters could have perfectly have a book on their own, the fact that there was a common thread, linking both stories turned this book into an even better one.
There is a thing I have to admit… my knowledge of the Scottish past is rather minimal. And what I know, I know from reading some fictional books, making me do some superficial research on Google, or watching movies like Braveheart. So while Agnes’ story may be fictional, I liked how it the author put some real events into it, making it all more plausible.
What I liked the most, was the bond of sisterhood. Leah and Zoe are real sisters, and would do anything for each other, even moving out of their comfort zone if that would mean it would help their sibling. And while Agnes is on her own, she is like a real big sister to Effe, who is much more fragile even if they are around the same age. Both Zoe and Agnes are very protective of Leah and Effe respectively. And that makes it so easy to like them. But their protectiveness also makes sure that they put their selves on the side-line, eve risking to lose their own happiness.
It was sweet to read how initially it was Leah who was struggling at home, and once in Ravenscraig Castle, she found herself at home, and we saw how she was opening up, being back the Leah everyone knew. And it saddened me to read how Zoe was now in the struggling position, as she was doing everything to make her sister happy. That only shows that even twins are only alike until a certain point, but in the end they are also individuals with their own characteristics.
Yet both sisters slowly start to appreciate the beauty they are being surrounded by, and their curiosity to get to know more about Ravenscraig Castle, brings them to befriend some locals and the owner of the place, making them find more than just a wonderful yet also bit spooky place.
A spooky place where Agnes finds herself living after she had endured a horrible event, making her escape her home with Effe. What I liked about Agnes was her hands – on mentality. She doesn’t play just the victim, but she wants to show her worth and make sure that people see her value and allow her to stay at the castle. By just being true to herself, she shows people they can rely on her and trust her.
Seeing her falling in love for the first time was very sweet in my eyes. And even if it may seem a bit superficial, as how quick these feelings develop, it also shows that sometimes just one look can be more than enough to find the love of your life.
But on the other hand, it angered me to see in the end how she gets betrayed by the person she would do anything to protect… I felt so angered, so shocked even to see how quickly Agnes was being dismissed as soon as she longer was needed, and how quickly has been forgotten all the things that Agnes has been doing.
Obviously I knew that at least one story wouldn’t have the ending I wanted it to have, yet the author managed so well to let me care about all the main characters that I kept wishing, hoping, that somehow, the ending would be what all characters deserved.
Even if I am not fully convinced that places can be haunted, or that there are spirits lingering around, I was fully enthralled by this book. I just had to find out how each story would end. A wonderful book, filled with love, family, but also sadness and betrayal, just like in real life…
Isn’t it always the case that when something seems too good to be true…
Synopsis
Pia Temple has always had a soft spot for Jackson Moody following a passionate teenage love affair that burnt out over one long summer, more than ten years ago. First loves can be hard to forget, and the devastatingly gorgeous Jackson, is harder to forget than most.
After putting aside her ambitions while she cared for her parents, it is finally time for Pia to think about herself. So, when she’s offered the perfect job running the social calendar at Primrose Hall, with a dreamy flat included, how can she refuse? There’s only one problem… The new owner of the refurbished seventeenth-century manor house set in the idyllic Primrose Woods, is none other than Jackson, the man she’s thought about every day for years.
In a whirl of weddings and craft fairs, literary festivals and tea parties, Pia blossoms in her new role. But with the delectable Jackson a daily distraction, maybe this isn’t the dream job after all – especially when Jackson’s unfeasibly beautiful ex-girlfriend Tara, comes back to visit the hall…
Dreams Come True at Primrose Hall is the perfect feel-good love story to brighten even the darkest day. Just right for fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Julie Houston.
My review
As a teenager, Pia Temple thought she had her whole life figured out. Unfortunately, she had to give up her dreams to take care of her parents, and she even saw her teenage love affair with Jackson Moody end abruptly and unexpectedly. Now it’s finally time for adult Pia to think about herself and her dreams again. Even if she has low expectations, she applies for the perfect job, running the social calendar at Primrose Hall. Being in a situation where she needs to find a new place to live, the fact that the job comes with a flat, it’s the perfect solution to all her problems. But another issue arises, as it appears that the new owner, thus her new boss is no one else but Jackson Moody himself, the man she never forgot… Surrounded by weddings, craft fairs and donkeys, Pia finally has the chance to blossom, even if Jackson seems to become a continuous distraction…
What I love about this wonderful series, is that each story can be perfectly read as a standalone, and each time I fall in love with not only the wonderful characters, but also an amazing setting.
Having read the previous parts, I already saw glimpses of Pia and Jackson, but in this story we are able to get their whole story, which made my heart break a little bit, but also made me feel all warm and cosy on the inside…
Pia is a beautiful woman, inside and outside. She ‘gave up’ her own dreams to look after her parents, doing what not just everybody would do. And now that they are gone, it was absolutely understandable how lost Pia felt… And I could perfectly comprehend how difficult it was for her to leave her childhood home behind, having to stand on her own two feet, and find herself not only a job but also a place to stay, while having no real references…
However, despite her situation, it’s crystal-clear that her heart is at the right place, just read how she looks after not only her elder neighbour but also doesn’t hesitate to take care of Bertie, the Dalmatian. And I am not talking the lengths she would go for her friends…
Obviously, when Pia starts her PA job at Primrose Hall, she feels like a fish out of water, as she hasn’t done anything like this before. Yet I admired her determination to work everything out, and just own the job. And I have to say, she has some great ideas, perfect for the place, understanding and feeling what it needs and what it doesn’t (or what Jackson needs and doesn’t need).
Initially it was difficult to decipher Jackson’s character. His actions were some moments contradictory, and for sure he isn’t always a ray of sunshine. But we also see this softer side of him, and the way he is around Bertie, speaks volumes. Slowly we get to understand Jackson better, seeing his struggles, his issues and his demons that keep chasing him.
While it’s clear that this story will have romance in it, and who the love interests are, for me it felt more than just *that* kind of story. I saw it more as a story where a young woman is still trying to figure out what she wants to do in her life, where her place in the world is and also has still a lot to learn, as her priorities were so different in her earlier life.
And it is also absolutely a story about second chances, at love and at life. Reading how Pia and Jackson cannot ignore that spark that is still alight after so many years, was just proof that we can never underestimate feelings, no matter when they were developed.
I found this a marvellous book to read, filled with many realistic, real issues. But also with realistic and real positive developments. Each solution made sense, and wasn’t something that could have been fixed by using a magic wand. They were real solutions for real problems.
Devouring this book may be an understatement, as I enjoyed reading each page of it. And seeing my old friends again, making new friends and fall in love with this wonderful setting was the perfect recipe to lighten my day!
Only child out of the house – so far out that she’s gone all the way to Australia! A husband, who has requested a break. Life isn’t quite going as planned for Katy.
She’s suddenly at a loss, but she still has her friends Sam, Vicky and Ivy. The girls have been there for her through thick and they’re not about to stop now. However, they think Katy might need more than boot camp . . . so they kidnap her and head off to France on a last minute retreat.
Can a reset give her a new lease on life or help her win back her husband? Or could there be a new love in her life?
She went for a holiday, but it could become the start of a second chance . . .
My review
Katy was sure that her husband came back to his senses when he asked to talk to her after needing a break. But she wasn’t prepared to hear that he wants the break to be definite, especially after hearing that their daughter wants to stay in Australia and make her life there. Feeling at loss, Katy doesn’t know what to do with her life now. But her friends Sam, Vicky and Ivy, Katy’s rock at the most difficult moments, decide to surprise her with a last minute escape, in a retreat in France. The French countryside is the perfect place for Katy to unwind, and let loose. And perhaps start a new chapter in her life? Or will she be able to win her husband back?
You know what really annoys me? When people, especially women, think that *they* need to change in order to keep their spouses. What is wrong with just being yourself? And if your spouse is being a prick, like Katy’s husband is, isn’t it better to lose him instead of always doing as he pleases?
So at the start of this book, I wasn’t Katy’s biggest fan, as it was clear that she lost herself while always following her husband. I wasn’t her biggest fan, but I also pitied her… In a short time she has had several shocks, at first her husband needing a break, then her daughter wanting to stay in Australia and the straw that breaks the camel’s back, her husband having moved on and having no intention of returning to Katy at all…
While as a reader it doesn’t come as a total shock, I could understand how deflated Katy felt, as everything that mattered to her, was now just gone. No husband, no daughter around… Luckily she has some wonderful friends, who will do everything they can to make Katy feel alive again. Sometimes we all need a (not so) gentle push making us rethink about our lives and which course we want to take next. And is there a lovelier place than the place where these best friends will be staying?
I liked it to see how Katy opened up again, thinking about herself and not what someone else expects from her. She finds her own passions again, and is not being gaslighted by a selfish, outdated, old-fashioned and even a bit sexist husband. And this new, old Katy was for sure much more loveable than the Katy we met at the start of this book.
Katy also found a potential love interest, but the focus wasn’t about Katy finding romance, it was all about finding herself (again). Even if at one point in the story she makes a choice I didn’t agree, I could understand she had to give it one more chance. And it was the more rewarding seeing how Katy has changed throughout the story, and seeing how she doesn’t accept the BS she would have accepted in the past.
The author shows us that this search isn’t one without trial and error, even here and there clashing with people who have your best interest at heart. It’s not an easy journey, it takes a lot of courage and understanding, not only what happened in the past or what direction you want to take, but also understanding yourself, allowing yourself to be yourself again.
This was a wonderful story to read, about a woman who reluctantly has to accept the changes in her life, but realizes that being comfortable in a situation doesn’t mean that you have to just accept it. But that, at any stage in your life, you can change the course of your life, and can change back into the person you used to be, the person that used to be happy, and not just content. Something we all just stop and think about!
Tizi’s Book Review 