Better a good neighbour than a distant friend, but what if the neighbour isn’t a good one?

Synopsis

Love thy neighbour or fear thy neighbour?

For myself and Lauren, my 10-year-old daughter No3 Beech Close was to be our refuge after two years of hell nursing my sick mother.

In need of a fresh start and wanting to distance ourselves from the bad memories of my mother’s house we moved to Beech Close, a small cul-de-sac of six houses situated around a picture-perfect green.

It seemed perfect but I had underestimated the secrets that this tightknit community shared.

Within hours of moving in my next-door neighbour Valerie made it abundantly clear we were not welcome.

I soon discovered that Valerie hadn’t welcomed the previous occupant either and she’d since disappeared without a trace.

Had I put myself and my daughter in danger moving to Beech Close?

Which neighbours, if any could I trust?

And how far would they go to keep their secret?

My review

Shelly and her 10 – year – old daughter Lauren need a fresh start after Shelly has been taking care for two years for her sick mother.
That need and the desire to get as far as possible from the bad memories, brings Shelly and Lauren to Beech Close, a small cul-de-sac of six houses wonderfully surrounded by the green.
But what Shelly didn’t expect is to find herself in a very close and tightknit community, filled with secrets and deception.
Her neighbour Valerie has made it more than obvious that they are not welcome in Beech Close. And when Shelly learns that the previous resident of her home didn’t get along with Valerie and now has actually disappears, Shelly wonders how far the community goes to keep each other’s secrets…

I have not moved myself a lot of times, but the times I did, I did wonder what kind of neighbours I would have. And I can say that I count myself lucky as I got along very well with each of them. Obviously, there are sometimes a few issues, but nothing terrible.
So reading a book where the main character moves in a neighbourhood with all suspicious characters in their own way, made my skin crawl…

I cannot say that I liked any of the new neighbours, they all acted in a way that made me very wary of each and every one of them.
And it made me feel sad seeing that the fresh start Shelly needed so much slowly turned into a real nightmare.

Because it’s not only Valerie and her very obvious dislike of Shelly and Lauren, but also the whispers of all the others making feel the two more out of place and made them feel even more of not belonging to the neighbour.

Taking in account what Shelly and Lauren already had to endure in the past, and with even more dark secrets revealed from Shelly, made me wish that they could finally start a new, beautiful chapter in a neighbourhood that would seem to tick all the boxes.
And thanks to those secrets being revealed, I could understand Shelly’s behaviour much better. At moments I couldn’t match Shelly’s character with her actions. But with patience I started to understand Shelly better and I could see the complete picture.

Shelly is a wonderful mother, she does whatever she can on her own in raising Lauren, even if it isn’t always as easy. And just in the grand finale we see how far that love and protectiveness goes.
And Shelly is also a lucky woman with having such a great best friend in Josh. He is always there for Shelly, and Lauren too, on a deeper level of just friendship. I felt that they were more a family than just best friends.

The author manages perfectly to create so many cobweb all interlinked but also creating such a chaos that just like Shelly, I didn’t know who was trustworthy and who wasn’t. Every moment that I thought I had figured it all out, something else was being revealed, making me throw my theory away.
There are several creepy moments, making me watch my back myself, or even looking suspiciously at my own neighbours. This is for sure not a book to read if you are a little bit paranoid. But it’s also a good book to show you that trusting your instincts is never the wrong thing to do.

Can one night in the present make up for a broken past?

Synopsis

Her forbidden love is back to claim her!

Once Lady Rebekah shared a life changing night with stable hand Raeden but he disappeared the morning after. Now she’s consort to a cruel Saxon Lord, and when Northmen lay siege to Ryestone Keep, Rebekah’s shocked to see Raeden leading the charge! This Viking warrior is not the man she remembers, yet she finds herself drawn to him again. Taken as his hostage, Rebekah must decide: can she trust him with her life…and her dangerous secret?

My review

When Lady Rebekah was only ten, she found herself being an orphan and literally burned after an attack of the Danes. Luckily she found a new home with her uncle at Ryestone Keep.
However, her life has changed dramatically and instead of being married out of love with stable boy Raedan, she is now at the mercy of Atol, her uncle’s son. He abuses and uses her however he want, having totally no intention of ever marrying her.
When one night the Danes raid  Ryestone Keep, Rebekah in order to save her people agrees to be taken hostage by the brutes.
But she cannot be more shocked when she realizes that her captivator Halfdan is the boy she loved with all her heart years ago and believed to be dead.
But Raedan is not looking for his lost love, all he wants is take revenge, even revenge on Rebekah. However, with feelings once so strong between them, is revenge the final score? Or can their love reignite, even with secrets? 

It’s no secrets that I always enjoy reading stories involving Vikings. I think there are many women all around the world dreaming of finding their own goodhearted warrior Viking, fighting for her heart (which we would easily give to the Right Viking of course!).
Combine it with a story of second chances, and I know that I will be in for a treat! 

Rebekah’s story is one that broke my heart a little bit. She already lost her family as a child, and when she finds love, it’s brutally taken away from her, believing Raedan has died and she is left with no prospect of a happy future.
I cannot imagine how terrible it must be to live like that, being literally at service of a horrible, brutal, uncaring and abusing man.
And seeing how quickly she has been disregarded, almost thrown away at the threat of the Danes, made my blood turn cold… 

However, she is a strong woman too. She wants to protect her people and more, even at her own expense. So she does not hesitate to ‘volunteer as a tribute’ (sorry I had a strong Hunger Games vibe while reading that bit 😊).
And when we get to learn the extra reason for her protectiveness, my admiration for her strength only grew. 

And her strength becomes more and more apparent went she tries to stand tall against the Danes, even against Raedan, the man she once loved. I liked it how she didn’t just change her mind because the ‘bad guy’ was someone she knew and once loved, she didn’t let the past feelings write off her current thoughts.
But she is also a woman capable of realizing that there’s two sides to every story. And when she learns what happened to Raedan, and that not all Danes are all the same, she starts to see the real truth, and not her truth. 

When we get to know what happened to Raedan, it wasn’t only Rebekah’s heart that boke, but I felt so sorry for him too. Not only did Raedan got beaten, he also got sold and found out that the love of his life apparently was quick on forgetting him. No wonder he was out for revenge, and eager to take Rebekah as a captive.
It’s obvious that Raedan is a great warrior, and a loved one too. that all thank to one man who believed in him, even if Raedan wasn’t one of them.
I could see very easily how agile and fierce Raedan was, and it for sure was swoon worthy material! But it was his kindness and gentleness, especially towards Gytha that made me love him. Also his protectiveness towards Rebekah when he learns about her past and how he wants to save her, was just making me feel lightheaded! 

Yes, I knew before I even started how this story would end. But between the start and the end of a book, there is so much that can happen. And with these kind of characters, I didn’t mind one bit that I knew how it was going to end, because in life, but also in books, the journey is more important than the final result. Because in that journey we get to know not only ourselves, but we also find courage to even overcome our greatest fears, strength and most important of all, love…

Can a courtship like in Jane Austen’s book work in modern times?

Synopsis

Can old-fashioned courtship survive in today’s dating world?

When Emma Love’s mother retires, it is time for her to take the reins of the family dating agency and build on its success. And she has a fresh new idea: to host a Jane Austen-style Regency Season of glamourous events where potential lovers can actually take the time to get to know each other in person, with no apps in between.

Emma has no intention of becoming romantically involved herself, of course; she is a matchmaker on the hunt for the perfect partner for ladies like Annie (who thought she had missed her chance at love a long time ago), Jane (recently divorced and nervously stepping into her new life) and wild child Lydia (more interested in hooking up than finding Mr Darcy).

As the Season unfolds, there is only one fly in Emma’s ointment – the irritating Mr Knight, with his casual attitude and gentle cynicism. Why is she allowing him to ruffle her calm, ordered life and why can’t she stop thinking about him? She is far too sensible to take a chance on love – isn’t she?

Jane Austen meets Sophie Kinsella in this laugh-out-loud, captivating romantic comedy.

My review

Now that her mother has retired, it’s up to Emma Love to run the dating agency and keep it a successful business.
But how can her agency stand out between all the online dating apps? So Emma has a brand new idea, by hosting a Jane Austen-style Regency Season events, where the wannabe lovers have the opportunity to actual get to know each other.
just like the three best friends Annie, Jane and Lydia. Annie, who couldn’t be more romantic, but believes that she lost her chance at love a while ago, Jane who just got recently divorced but doesn’t know how her love life will look like, and Lydia who is more interested in casual hook-ups than finding actual love.
And even for Emma, this season may turn out to something unexpected, in the shape of Mr. Knight, who despite his name turns out to irritate Emma, yet she somehow cannot stop thinking about him?

If someone would ask me which author is my favourite of all the Classics, my answer would be obviously Jane Austen.
So having a story, in the present time, with a main character trying to re-enact the courting in that era, well, I just had to read it!

Being single myself, and not a fan of all those dating apps, I was for sure interested in how Emma would run her dating agency, especially as she has big shoes to fill.
I found her ideas refreshing, as she just went back to the true purpose, using a faraway past as inspiration. Because she wants her customers to find true love, and not just someone for one night.

While I was reading, I felt that each character, Emma, Annie, Jane and Lydia could have had their own book, as it seemed that sometimes things were a bit too hasted. I would have loved to read more about their past, and more in detail how they became the women they are now.
But that doesn’t take away my enjoyment from reading this story!

The combination of all different kind of love was wonderful, and the author shows us that love truly does come in actual different shapes and forms.
But it’s not only about finding someone to love, but also to love yourself. Because several characters have been through an emotional rollercoaster and have to find the courage to move on, and accept their internal changes to have a happy future.

Each character has an own struggle, from trying to live to high expectations, a great loss, a negative self-image or even mourning about a lost chance at love.
But what stood out the most, was the inner circle these people could always rely on. No matter what their issues were, it was sweet to see how those issues were just accepted. You can always count on your real friends to stand by your side no matter what…

I have to admit, this book as promoted as a ‘laugh – out – loud romcom’, but while I agree with the romcom, heart – warming bits, I didn’t actually laugh out loud… I did have fun yes, but I didn’t see this as a light story.
I found it entertaining, but on a more serious level than I expected. There were light and unsurprising bits, yet after finishing the book, it were the more serious parts that kept wandering in my mind.

I found this a lovely, heart – warming yet also refreshing story, about people trying to find love in a new way, but also fitting for their own specific needs. And no matter what your needs or ‘requirements’ are, those who love you, will stand by your side every step of the course!

Can kindred spirits find each other despite society’s standards?

Synopsis

There’s a new Laird in town

Will he leave with a wife?

Angus MacDonald has just arrived in London to reclaim his land when he rescues Lady Isabella Wood from a cattle stampede! Their instant attraction is undeniable, but Isabella must wed this Season and Angus isn’t looking for a bride. His wild Hebridean home is a world away from London Society, so Isabella is completely out-of-bounds. Even if their connection is unlike anything he’s felt before.

My review

Isabella may be a Lady in name, but she has her own opinion over Society’s rules. She enjoys more a walk in the park, feeling free and talking to whomever she wants than attending balls and acting all posh.
Even when her own brother tells Isabella that she must marry before the end of the Season, she hopes that even if she really doesn’t want to marry, she can marry out of love.
But the eligible candidates don’t make her heart beat faster… there is only one man who has that effect on her, and of course he is off limits, as Angus MacDonald is a Scottish Highlander trying to reclaim his land, owned by Isabella’s brother…
And Angus is absolutely not looking for a wife, and for sure not in London!
Isabella’s and Angus’ worlds couldn’t be more apart, but since Angus rescued Isabella from a cattle stampede, their attraction and connection couldn’t be any more stronger.

I like it when there is a new chapter in a series I loved. And I can appreciate the efforts the author makes with linking the previous book with her new one, but also allowing ‘new’ readers to enjoy this book even without having read the previous book.
And this was for sure the case in this book! There are a few references to ‘A Laird For The Governess’, but you can perfectly read this story as a standalone.

It’s no secret that even if a little bit predictable, I truly enjoy reading these kind of books. And when in a case like this one, there are so lovable characters, my enjoyment was even bigger!

Living in the 21st century myself, I can only try to imagine how difficult life was for women in the Regency era. We all know that women weren’t as entitled as we are now, and that they had to follow whatever the male members of the family requested.
And things aren’t that different for Isabella, as she has to do as her brother Freddy tells her to.
But I liked it how Isabella wasn’t a sheep following the herd. She has a mind of her own, and doesn’t just accept the rules Society has. She sees people for who they are, and not what their lineage is.

Despite her status, I kept seeing Isabella as a normal young woman, that yes, has her own opinion over several things, but in the end just wants the same as us: to be happy, marry for love and to do what *she* wants to do and not because it’s expected from her.

And I saw the same in Angus. Yes, he is a Highlander also with a certain status. But his greatest wish is not a selfish one, but one for ‘his people’.
It’s obvious from every page that he cares about the people at home. But he is also protective, not only towards his sister Eilidh, but when he sees a danger he isn’t afraid to put himself in its line to protect someone else.

But Angus is also a very perceptive man. He knows how the Londoners see him, unjustified as someone ‘lesser’ than them. And while it would have been easier for him to react to this injustice, he ignores it, and at moments even better, he uses their prejudice in his own advantage!

Obviously there are some leery characters, of which some are more easily to forgive than others, and even put in place by someone unexpected, which made me laugh.

Even if the focus in this book is on Isabella and Angus, there is one (potential?) couple that piqued my interest.
And that is because both Max and Eilidh (Isabella’s brother and Angus’ sister respectively) are also so easy to like. The most I  liked it how Max learned to take his own life in hands, and not living with the thought of ‘just being a spare’.
But their presence in this book made me long to read their own story in more detail!

I just loved how two different people have yet so much in common. And obviously I found it great to read how despite their efforts to stay clear from each other, they keep on being drawn to each other, it’s just stronger then themselves!

And that fact is something that we all should keep in mind, in Regency era or the 21st century… Because no matter how different someone may seem, they may surprise us with what we do have in common, more than expected.
And those similarities are what matters, because the common ground can be the start where deeper feelings can grow…
And that takes away the predictability of the story, and turns it into something more heartfelt…

Participating in a reality show like no other may be just what is needed

Synopsis

Isabel, Izzy to her friends, has got nothing left to lose when she makes the bravest decision of her life. 

A month living under canvas on the Yorkshire Moors with five strangers wouldn’t normally be her idea of a good time, even if there is prize money to be won at the end of it, but she’s all out of options.

Joining her in this wild goose chase, being filmed for a TV show, are farmer Seb, whose marriage is creaking but who is desperate not to lose his family. Sheltered Ruth who needs an opportunity to show she can make her own decisions. Glamorous socialite Kanga, who has been living a lie. American Junior who has his own secret that has led him there. And last but not least, mysterious and brooding Mac, who Izzy can’t help but be drawn to.

As the fickleness of nature tests them all to their limits, this disparate group come together to face the challenge. But when Izzy finally tells them the truth that has brought her out on the Moors, will that be the end of their adventure, or the beginning of her future? Because what Izzy really needs is a place to call home, and someone to share it with could be even better…

My review

In normal circumstances, Izzy would never participate in a reality show, especially when it involves living a month on the Yorkshire Moors, with five complete strangers, trying to find proof that big cats live on the Moors.
But the prize money at the end of the show may be the only solution as all her other options have run out…
With nature testing and taunting the team to their limits, slowly truths are being revealed and nothing is as it seems. And Izzy’s own truth can maybe be the end of the whole adventure, or the beginning of a bright new future? A future with a place she can finally call home?

I have read several book from this author with the greatest pleasure. I know how well she can captivate her audience, thus I was also physically prepared for a marathon reading session.
However, this turned out to be a different story than expected, and also with a different focus.

Don’t understand me wrongly, different does not equal bad. It just took me a little bit of extra time to adjust myself to this tale that turned out to be with a much bigger and important message than imagined.

It’s hard to imagine in a western world how someone who was doing rather okay would find herself in the particular situation Izzy finds herself in.
But it only shows how volatile comfort and wealth is… But Izzy also shows how resilient she is, by doing whatever she can to turn the tide.

For me personally, making the choice Izzy made would be double horror. First of all, I am not the camping/ nature kind of girl. Sleeping on the outside, in a tent with limited hygienic and other facilities would be the worst punishment for me.
And participating in a reality show, well for no money in the world I would ever do that, even if this show would appear to be different from the shows we know.

Even in this slightly innovative show the clichés of the participants seem to be confirmed. But what I liked about spending all this time with the participants, is that nothing is what it seems, for any of them…
It’s easy to create an opinion of somebody without knowing the real person behind the façade. But how often do we realize afterwards that our opinion wasn’t correct and that the truth couldn’t be more different from what we see and think.
And that is something we should always keep in mind, that what you see, isn’t always the truth…

Once I pushed the reset – button in my mind and kept not comparing this stories with Jane’s previous books, I truly started to enjoy this book. I was afraid with every mysterious noise, was suspicious with the behaviour of each character but I was also feeling relieved for the characters when their secret came out in the open as they could be their real selves again.

So while this story was not what I expected, it proofed me that, like we say in Belgium, a change in food makes you eat (literally translation 😊), meaning that a change isn’t always bad but can turn out to be a very pleasant surprise!

What kind of Christmas will Clara get?

Synopsis

The festive season is fast approaching but with the challenges facing Clara, it looks like being anything but the most wonderful time of the year. Can she somehow find the strength to meet those challenges head-on and find her way to the perfect, happy-ever-after Christmas?

My review

Clara is more determined than ever to go to New York and find her beloved grandmother’s sister.
Right by her side will be Rory, who has been the best of friends. Of course her feelings for Rory have not disappeared, but there are still so many reasons she cannot act upon them. Because even if things are going better at home, she cannot break what has been slowly building back together.
Will this Christmas be the moment where all the pieces of the puzzle will finally fall perfectly into place?

Rosie Green knew that while I loved the previous parts of this series, I also got a bit angry as I wanted in each book that Clara would get her happily ever after.
Being promised I would happy with this book, I had very high expectations!
Luckily for this author, by the end of the book, I was a happy Tizi!

Obviously, Clara is still that wonderful character from the previous books. She is still caring, loving, and (sometimes at a frustrating level) putting other one’s happiness before her own happiness. I understood that she finally is being real sisters with Lois, and she doesn’t want to jeopardize that. But COME ON Clara, you deserve to be happy and in love too!

I appreciated that the author showed us also another side of Clara. A side that isn’t always seeing the best in each situation. Clara turned in New York into an even more real person in my eyes. Because while she landed very hopeful, we see how slowly she starts to realize that just flying over there might have been a goose chase and I somehow saw a little light go off in her eyes… Yet that doesn’t take away that Clara even in New York manages to be juts herself and befriend new people.

Rory has changed my opinion of him through the series. While in book one I initially truly liked him, the further along I didn’t exactly dislike him, but I didn’t like him that much anymore. In Book Two he started to redeem himself, making me love him all over again.
And in this book, he stole my heart completely.

I liked it how he is the kind of man that after a failed relationship, still cares for his ex. He also shows a great patience and understanding, as it cannot be easy to hear all the time that things cannot go any further, while receiving mixed messages all the time.
And while it broke my heart, I could also understand why he decided to stop waiting… Even if I was cheering for Clara and Rory to get finally together, I comprehended that somewhere a line had to be drawn… 

But the way things wrapped up perfectly towards the end, and I am not only talking about the romance, was just wonderful.
I loved it how there were no unanswered questions left, how the end was what I was hoping for.
This amazing author shows that patience is always rewarded, no matter if it concerns a loveable character or a reader that needs the author to write a story and an ending she will love.
And just for the record: yes, I did get what I hoped for and even more!

How a monthly book club can change lives, no matter the age

Synopsis

Deep in the Somerset countryside, the Combe Pomeroy village library hosts a monthly book club.

Ruth the librarian fears she’s too old to find love, but a discussion about Lady Chatterley’s Lover makes her think again.

Aurora doesn’t feel seventy-two and longs to relive the excitement of her youth, while Verity is getting increasingly tired of her husband Mark’s grumpiness and wonders if their son’s imminent flight from the nest might be just the moment for her to fly too. And Danielle is fed up with her cheating husband. Surely life has more in store for her than to settle for second best?

The glue that holds Combe Pomeroy together is Jeannie. Doyenne of the local cider farm and heartbeat of her family and community, no one has noticed that Jeannie needs some looking after too. Has the moment for her to retire finally arrived, and if so, what does her future hold?

From a book club French exchange trip, to many celebrations at the farm, this is the year that everything changes, that lifelong friendships are tested, and for some of the women, they finally get the love they deserve.

My review

Jeannie is running the local cider farm in Combe Pomeroy. But lately she has been wondering if the time has come for her to retire. Because she s always the one looking for everyone, but no one is looking after her…
But she can count on her friends, who are not only total opposites from each other, they are also in a different situation…
Like Ruth, who runs the library, but is afraid she will never find love. Or Aurora, that even at seventy – three is looking for the excitement she used to have. Then there is Verity, not understanding why her husband Mark has turned into a grumpy man. And Danielle, with a cheating husband who isn’t worthy of her…
The friends all come together on their monthly book club, and when their discussions turn into a plan to all go to France for an exchange trip, they could never imagine that this trip will be the start f a year filled with many changes. 

I absolutely love how this author manages to make me forget the age gap between me and her characters!
While just looking at the age, the characters could all be my grandmother, but their liveliness, passion and courage for adventure makes me see them more as a friend than an elderly (no offence!). 

The friends couldn’t be more different from each other, yet it was great to see how it all just clicked and made sense for the reader. In each clique there is the extravagant one, the quiet one and it was easy to pinpoint each friend into the right category.
However, it is not a case of there being one leader, and the rest follows. Because in their own unique way, they manage to help each other through each crisis. 

I can tell you right here and now what each friend is going through, but that would also take away your joy and surprise when you decide to read this book (which would be a great choice by the way!).
With each crisis it was easy to feel compassion for the character. Even if I am not at that stage in my life (yet), I can comprehend the doubts every one of the women is feeling.
And seeing how these friends decide that age is just a number and that that number shouldn’t hold them, almost made me want to stand up and applaud them! 

The more I was reading into this book, the more I found bits from each character that were recognizable. I could relate (to some extent) to each character, finding some features that applied also to my own persona.  

Of course this book wouldn’t be a Judy Leigh book if it wasn’t also filled with tons of humour! And laugh I did! Violet for sure took the spotlight whenever the mood needed be much lighter. For a ninety – five years old wonderful lady, she for sure knows how to make everyone groan or laugh with her silly jokes!
But she is also the voice of reason in a few occasion, trying to let not only Jeannie see that there is still so much to enjoy from life!
However, she is also the cause of a few misunderstandings, which only made me laugh even louder than before! 

Each person in the end makes a choice that changes her life, but that choice isn’t taken lightly, as it shouldn’t. Each woman finds the courage, with the friends on her side, to take a frightening step to a brand new future. Each person in the end makes a choice that changes her life, but that choice isn’t taken lightly, as it shouldn’t. Each woman finds the courage, with the friends on her side, to take a frightening step to a brand new future even if not knowing for the 100% what else in store for them. But nothing ventured is nothing gained, right? 

This is a wonderful book, about second chances at not just love, but also at life. The author takes her time to show the change in each character, which is totally understandable as people don’t just change overnight… And seeing how much can change in a year, but also how solid friendship can be, made reading this book a true enjoyment. Again the author wrote a wonderful story, about great characters and not disappointing her reader at all!

Some Inns feel more like a home than an actual Inn…

Synopsis

Welcome back to the Inglenook Inn, your home away from home.

Rupert has been the chef at the Inglenook Inn for years. He loves working at the boutique hotel, crafting exquisite meals and fantastic desserts for each and every guest. When his boss, who is practically family, has to rush away to take care of her daughter, Rupert has to step up and run the place. That would be challenge enough, but then his sister Natalie shows up, bringing a lot more than luggage.

Katy is out of a job and out of luck until she lands a temporary job at the Inglenook Inn. With her years of experience, helping to manage a hotel is a challenge she relishes. But there’s more drama under the roof than she expected and she’s worried her dad might be making a decision he’ll regret.

Rupert and Katy have their hands full, but there’s magic in the air at the Inglenook Inn, and as they work side by side they discover something new and unexpected.

Is it possible to fall in love in just a few short days?

My review

Rupert loves working as a chef at the Inglenook Inn. And even the owner of the boutique hotel feels more like family than his actual boss.
But when she is called away for an emergency, it’s Rupert’s task to step up and run the place.
Being only the chef was easy, but he cannot run the place on his own. So he hires Katy as a temporary help.
Katy is glad to have found the job, as she was out of one. She is not afraid to help out any way she can. And as the job comes with room and board, how can she resist. Especially now that she knows her father is taking an major decision that will change their lives.
But when unexpectedly Rupert’s sister Natalie shows up, it’s clear that managing the inn will be the easiest task of them all, as Katy and Rupert are uncovering several secrets. Secrets that may or may not break that strong bond that they built in only a short time span. 

I have always been charmed by boutique hotels. Of course, going to the bigger ones, you know that fewer things will go wrong, but you also know that you are just a client and a number.
While in an inn, it’s all more familiar, cosier and even if things happen to go a bit wrong, well, that’s part of the charm too, right? 

From the very start, I liked Rupert. He is not just a chef, cooking and not caring for the guests, but he truly tries to please everyone, and also looks after his boss, who he sees more as family. And isn’t it a wonderful thing, when the place you work, becomes a home far from home? I felt the love he has for the Inn, and I knew that when he started to take over the Inn when in need, that yes he would have struggles, but he would also do his best to make his boss proud.

It’s also very clear that he is a family man. Even if he is living far away from his parents and siblings, he would do anything for them. That is also made obvious when his youngest sister unexpectedly appears in the Inn.
His youngest sister who has caused many headaches in the family, but also the sister who need Rupert now more than ever.

Obviously it’s crystal-clear that her appearance will cause some trouble, and I found myself being very easy to judge her, when ‘seeing’ some things that Natalie was doing. But I was somehow glad that my first impression of Natalie was wrong, and when the truth came out, I even found myself a bit ashamed of my thoughts and I felt so sorry for her… Yes, Natalie’s behaviour made me dislike her, especially how she behaved towards Katy, but in the end, she redeemed herself and like I  said, everything made sense… 

Katy was the kind of character where you can easily see her pain. It’s been her and her dad for so long, and now that her dad is moving on, I could understand why Katy felt so at lost. Her only rock wasn’t only hers anymore…
And I agreed with her, that maybe going to stay at the Inn was the best thing, so that she could try to find the answer to her question of where her future would bring her. 

Katy is also the kind of person who gives people chance after chance. Which is obvious with Natalie on the scene. And Katy also won’t let her personal like or dislike interfere with her friendship with Rupert or her many tasks at the Inn. She prefers to keep the peace and quiet and not create a scene.
But the further in the story we also see a fragile, hurt Katy. I was a bit shocked at that revelation, but it also made me understand her behaviour better, especially at moments where gentle and kind Katy shows that some things can not just be covered by the cloak of love.
However, even in the most heated moments, Katy’s kindness and caring nature never truly leave her, making some of the most heart – warming bits of this story!  

I loved reading how quickly Rupert and Katy bond and become friends. While some friendships (and more) need a long time to be as strong as it is, sometimes the strongest feelings can arise in a short period.
But what I liked the most was that, yes there is some flirtation throughout the story, but the romance is such a slow build-up that when it finally happens, it gives the readers such a satisfied feeling of ‘FINALLY!
Rupert and Katy are first of all friends, helping out each other however they can. And it’s their kindness and passion for the case that makes their feeling progress into something more. 

But the thing that touched me the most, was the fact that people can surprise us in the best ways. Both Rupert and Katy learn this, as nothing is what it seemed to be, and that the people who maybe don’t appear as the most likeable, or appear as the people that are hurting us the most, can turn out the be the people that will heal all the hurt we have endured.
And yes, sometimes we just need a few days to find that someone special, who will make our heart beat a little bit faster…

A childhood crush, a broken heart, what will the future bring?

Synopsis

Dax Hartley has made flowers his entire life, just like his late father did.

When his dad’s old florist’s shop is up for sale, he has to have it. Only problem is, he’d need to sell a kidney to afford it. The reality show Battle of the Blossoms is the perfect opportunity to win the money he needs, but when his childhood crush blows back into his life, distractions risk taking his eyes off the prize. He needs his head and heart to start working together to ensure he doesn’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

Hollyn Matthews has made some colossal mistakes in life.

When she’s dumped just as she’s expecting an engagement ring, she knows she’s put her heart into the wrong man. Hoping for a second chance at being a grown-up, she moves home to stay with her brother and his best friend Dax, a boy whose memory faded as she ran away from her past. Facing the hurt she left behind means facing some home truths about herself, but there’s one boy who has always loved her, if only she’d take the time to notice him.

My review

Maybe Hollyn didn’t know what to feel exactly, but while she was expecting an engagement ring, being dumped was not what she thought the evening would bring.
She returns to stay with her brother River, licking her wounds and thinking what she will do with her future now.
However, River does not live on his own, as he shares an apartment with his best friend Dax. Dax, who used to have a major crush on Hollyn and is now trying to turn his dream into reality. He wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and open his own florist shop, the same place his father used to have his shop. But for being to do that, he participates in a reality show. And with Hollyn’s return, he finds himself easily distracted.
Returning back home means for Hollyn to also face all the hurt she has caused in the past…
All this is going on while she starts to realize that there is still one man who would do just anything for her…

I absolutely love romance stories, and sometimes even the most predictable stories can bring me so much happiness and fun.
And this story is a lovely, heart – warming one, that brought me even more joy and fun than I expected, while not being predictable at all!

It’s clear that Hollyn is a kind character, but I found her also a bit gullible at moments. There were several incidents, even in the past, that made me want to show her that her decisions weren’t the wisest ones.
But the more into the story I got, the more I saw that Hollyn is not gullible at all, but it was more a case of being gaslighted.
Seeing how her ex behaved towards her, only made me feel more sorry for her, and even made me question the faith we put in people who don’t deserve it.
And her not knowing what to feel with the prospect of the proposal, also shows us that the relationship she is in, isn’t the best kind…

But I found it great to see how Hollyn’s confidence starts to grow in this story, and how she realizes the mistakes she made in the past and how she tries to redeem herself.
It was also realistic that it takes time to forgive and forget, however, even in her case, her family will always be her biggest fan!

Now I have a very important question for the author… Where can I buy Dax for myself? Because he just threw all my perfect imaginary boyfriends through the window and he is my first choice now!
I don’t think there can be a kinder or gentler character!
In his younger years he may be seen as a geek, but what a marvellous specimen has he turned into!
Not only has his appearance turned for the better, but he also kept his kindness and caring nature. The way he welcomes Hollyn back home, with a bunch of lovely flowers, and keeps on being her rock, made my heart melt.
But I also laughed with his quirkiness and sense of humour. And his shirts made always put a smile on my face!

The story itself was so sweet on so many levels. We see how a teenage crush can evolve into something permanent and real, we see how a character finally sees what was in front of her all the time. And we see also how a forgotten deep friendship was able to have an impact not only in the past but also in the present.
Seeing how Hollyn and Dax are getting closer again was something wonderful to experience, and how they are being such a positive influence in each other’s lives.

And the humour also has a big importance in this marvellous book. I laughed how River sticks to his ‘bro code’, not seeing how useless it was.
But I liked the kind of brother he is. he is truly there for Hollyn, giving up his bed, but also giving her all the support she needs.

I have not talked about the participation of the reality show, but while it is important for Dax to realize his dreams, and these moments bring the main characters closer together, the show has its significant moments, but it’s not the connecting thread throughout the story.

I was positively surprised by this book and first acquaintance with this lovely author. I found myself totally invested in the story of Hollyn and Dax, with their chances at redemption, chasing dreams, and finding yourself and love.
What a wonderful, heart – warming, positive story!!!

A great cover and and intriguing story!

Synopsis

One hidden painting. Two women born centuries apart. A secret uncovered.

In 2019, Rachel is stuck in a rut when she discovers what appears to be a Canaletto painting in her grandmother’s loft along with a note addressed to Philippa in 1782. With help from Jake at the local art gallery, Rachel endeavours to find out if the painting is an original and uncovers a secret from the past.

In 1780, governess at Chipford Hall, Philippa is offered the role of mistress by Earl Rupert. She escapes to Venice as companion to bluestocking, Lady Cordelia who reveals a secret that changes both their lives. They do their best to keep the secret from Lady Cordelia’s social circle, but their nemesis is determined to reveal all and ruin them.

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/3ES3oGy

Publication Date: 7th March 2023

About the author

Anita Chapman enjoyed writing stories from a young age, and won a local writing competition when she was nine years old. Encouraged by this, she typed up a series of stories about a mouse on her mum’s typewriter and sent them to Ladybird. She received a polite rejection letter, her first.

Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties. 

Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child. 

Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.

The cover!