Is there a better way for a fresh start than at St. Aidan’s?

Synopsis

St Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it’s always cocktail hour somewhere…

A clean slate in the world’s cosiest cottage by the sea…

When Gwen Starkey and her best friend, Ella Simpson, arrive in St Aidan to take on a cottage renovation, it’s the fresh start they both so desperately need. But when their new adventure begins with them unintentionally breaking into their neighbour, Ollie Lancaster’s cottage – thinking it’s their new home – and Gwen accidentally flashing the gorgeous Ollie before they flee, the life-long friends realise that life in Cornwall is going to be anything but quiet!

They also quickly discover that they’re in over their heads and it’s going to take a village to turn their cottage’s narrow walls into the luxurious hideaway of their dreams. St Aidan is full of colourful characters just waiting to welcome them, if only Gwen and Ella can find the courage to start leaving the past behind them…

My review

Gwen Starkey and her best friend Ella Simpson both need a fresh start. Taking on a cottage renovation in St. Aidan is coming up at the right time, and the friends are ready to start this new adventure together.
Their fresh start does not exactly being as expected, as they end up in the wrong house and unintentionally Gwen flashes the owner Ollie, who is also their neighbour.
Realization also quickly dawns that Gwen and Ella are in over their heads and they may need the help of everyone in St. Aidan to turn the cottage into the place of their dreams.
But Gwen also learns that relying on a community like St. Aidan is the perfect medicine to heal her broken heart. Is it however also enough to find the courage to open her heart again and start living again? 

It must be said, St. Aidan is just a wonderful place! I wish I could live there myself and be surrounded by all these amazing characters! 

Although, I must admit that my heart broke with Gwen’s story… I am close with my brother and I cannot imagine losing him. So I could feel Gwen’s pain over losing her beloved brother, and in exact the same way she lost her mother too…
It makes sense that Gwen wants to avoid anything that will remind her of her brother, because it is still too hurtful, even if some time has passed already.
However it saddened me how she turned her back on things she used to love, to avoid the pain that links her now with her brother…

Luckily she can rely on her best friend Ella, who is facing her own heartbreak, as her husband fell in love with another woman. While Ella’s pain is different, the women understand what they are enduring and are there to help each other at the hardest moments. 

And then the magic of St. Aidan begins… as a fan of the series, I know what this place does to newcomers, and I was very curious to read all about it, to see who Gwen would meet, and how the place would be like a healing balm for all her pain. 

Little did I expect that Gwen’s love interest would be Ollie and that he also was somehow in the same situation Gwen was in.
But sometimes it takes someone who knows what you are feeling and is going through the same things, to slowly put the past behind you and learn to live again. 

Grief is a very important presence in this book, as it makes the characters hold back and not live their lives at their fullest. But having people in the same position, and having wonderful people in St. Aidan with their understanding, can make it possible to take those small yet important baby steps and realize that moving on with your life doesn’t mean you will forget the person you have lost. It’s the right thing to keep them in your heart, but it’s wrong to let their memory hold you back from things you love. 

Now, this isn’t a complete sad story, as there are so many funny moments in it that made me laugh. And that is exactly what I expected from this book, yes characters that have been through a lot, but also the message that life is too short to not have fun and laughs.
Seeing how Gwen and Ollie, and even Ella, start to realize that you cannot keep looking back at the past, but you have to look forward to your future, warmed my heart.

This was again a wonderful, warm story I found impossible to put away. The characters are so easy to like, the place did its magic tricks again, and we even have recipes now to make Gwen’s fudge! Although, as believing its powers, maybe better not to make them myself, or I will not be on my own in nine months’ time! 😊

Time for an amazing cover reveal!

Synopsis

Pregnant Louisa is just getting back on track when life throws her another curveball. Now, it’s not a case of how she’ll get through her to-do lists but how she’ll manage being a mum again.

No one seems to understand. How will she run her company, be partner in a new venture, look after her three kids and handle a newborn? And why does everyone think this will be easy? Except her.

All Louisa wants is to be a good mum, a good wife and have a bit of time left for herself, but sometimes that’s too big an ask. Can she find the support she needs, or will she forever be pulled in too many directions, always at the mercy of her to-do lists?

Pre-order Link – books2read.com/u/baDkGL

Publication Date – 3rd November

About the author

Susan Buchanan has published eight books in the romantic comedy and contemporary romance genres: Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, Just One Day – Winter, Just One Day – Spring, Just One Day – Summer, and now Just One Day – Autumn.

As a freelance developmental editor and copy editor, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it. She loves romantic fiction, psychological thrillers, crime fiction and legal thrillers.

She lives near Glasgow with her two children and a Labrador. Oh, and her husband. 

She’s a member of the RNA, the SoA, ALLI and SAW.

When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, watching quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing retreats.

THE COVER

When an Italian man meets a Jewish girl…

Synopsis

“The Hating Game meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding!”

You think you have a crazy family? Meet Leo Donati, a great guy from a wacky NY Italian family, who is expected to live his life a certain way. There are a few family rules etched in stone that he has done his best to follow:

1. Attend Sunday family dinner. It’s at 2:00. Nobody knows why.

2. Love your mother. 

3. Never tell Nonna you’re full. Unless you have a death wish. 

4. Marry Italian. 

5. Family comes first. Always. Friends come and go, but family is forever. 

The only problem? He’s not living his best life. Not even close. Single, lonely, and spending way too much time at the gym burning sexual energy and ungodly amounts of pasta, Leo hopes his life will change when his father hands over the family business. If only things were that simple. A takeover offer on the business puts Leo on the war path against a strikingly sexy, but overly competitive Jewish woman who is seemingly intent on ruining his life. At least that’s how Leo sees it. 

As tension rises and Italian tempers flare, Leo wonders if perhaps hate isn’t the most accurate word for how he feels about his new nemesis. But it could never work. Yeah, the pizza bagel exists, but real-life cultural divides are more complicated than that, aren’t they?

Humor abounds as corporations and cultures collide. Leo tries to thwart the takeover, find love and happiness, while also trying to avoid being bludgeoned to death by his Nonna’swooden spoon. 

Love & Agita is a laugh-out loud, romantic comedy that has it all: twists, turns, emotional depth, sparkling chemistry and hilarious banter that flies off the page.

My review

Leo Donati’s family is a typical Italian one. Sunday family dinner, always listen to you mother, keep eating even if you’re full, family first and you must marry an Italian.
Leo sees himself as the cheese of a lasagne, keeping all the other bits together. Yet he feels that he is not living his best life. His family, especially his mother and nonna keep pushing him to get married and have children, and now even the family business is causing him headaches.
Leo is ready to take over the business from his father, and is left flabbergasted when his father tells him that a takeover offer has been placed. So Leo won’t become CEO at all and now he also has to face the businesswoman who will make sure the takeover will take place.
But on top of that all, Rae is not only his enemy, but also a woman Leo slowly cannot get out of his head. And while tensions rises, not only business-like, Leo wonders if choosing his family over everything is the right thing to do. Or is it choosing love, with Rae and the many cultural differences that for sure will cause a break with his family? 

THIS BOOK WAS SO F*CKING RECOGNIZABLE FOR ALL ITALIANS!!!!
Every Italian reference Grayson Avery wrote in this book, had me nodding in agreement, even the wooden spoon (at home, named with the terrifying name ‘la bacchetta’)! 

It’s obvious that Leo truly loves his family, with all their traditions and even absurd superstitions. Perhaps he didn’t want to work in the family business, yet he did because he was expected to. And now that he is ready to guide the place into the 21st century, he feels his future fall into pieces.
I totally understood his anger towards his father, as Leo had great ideas, but his father is the typical stubborn Italian, not listening to reason and believe that his word is law.
So obviously, Leo will do whatever he can to keep the business in family hands. 

Enter Rae… and let the fun begin!
We know immediately that Leo is going to fall into love with Rae, but before and while we get there, I had so many laughs!
It was so funny to see Leo turns into a complete idiot, saying the wrong things, things he would never say otherwise, making him look like a real pappagallo (parrot, meaning an idiot 😊)!

Rae is the total opposite of Leo, not only is she obviously a woman and Jewish, but she keeps business and pleasure strictly separated and is focused on showing her father her own worth. Why shouldn’t a woman be capable of doing what Rae is doing? It’s not that being a woman means we are less capable! 

Sparks immediately fly around between Leo and Rae. They started on the wrong foot, yet slowly they become friend-ish and find themselves more attracted to each other.
But they both know that their feelings will cause heartbreak anyway. If they stay together, their families will never approve. And Leo knows from his own family that they can hold on to a grudge for a very long time. And if Leo listens to his family, how can he be truly happy when he has lost the woman he loves? 

I just loved reading how Leo and Rae are falling deeper in love, yet never losing their constant banter. Like a real Italian, Leo wants to proof that Italians are the best in everything, like having the best pasta, pizza, actors,… the list is just endless. And even when it seems impossible, he finds a way to proof that Italians are the best anyway! 

Reading Rae’s notes were the cherry on top of an amazing cake (Italian cake that is! 😊) and I was really looking forward to read more of Rae thoughts! 

In so many ways, Rae and Leo are just perfect for each other. But it also saddened me a little bit to read how wrong it felt for Leo to give up his own happiness for his family. Even with a twists I didn’t see coming, his family finds reputation and how people see them, more important than having a happy Leo. 

This book shows how amazing Italians are (I am not biased at all!) but also the other side of the corner, how they can stubbornly hang on to values that would turn someone into the unhappiest person in the world.
But it’s also the Italian stubbornness that makes Leo reflect on what the right choice to make is. And while I loved the ending, it’s obvious it’s not the end of Leo and Rae, and I cannot wait to read how their romance will evolve even more!

Sometimes, you have to make sacrifices to chase your dream…

Synopsis

Escape to France with this warm, witty romantic read.

After ten years of loyal service Lily Butterworth has been made redundant. Like any clever woman, she knows the cure to redundancy is a little too much wine and her best friend.

Only the next morning, Lily has more than a hangover . . . she has a whole new house – in France!

Seeing this as an opportunity instead of a disaster, she’s excited about finally moving to France, just as she and her husband always dreamed of. However, Lily is in for another surprise. Despite planning to move there for over 20 years, her husband never actually intended to go. 

So begins a year in France, alone, renovating the gorgeous old farmhouse that is held together by wallpaper and wishes.

Will a year at the French farmhouse be just what Lily needs? Or could it be the previous owner, Frederique, that is the answer to Lily’s dreams?

My review

Lily Butterworth has the opportunity to finally realize her dream a year earlier than expected. She has always dreamed of buying a place in France together with her husband Ben.
Now that she has been made redundant, why wait an extra year with this opportunity? To celebrate this new chapter in her life, she celebrates this with her best friend and a bottle of wine. Only to discover she has bought a house online… in France!
However, Lily is shocked when Ben tells her he never wanted to move to France… And Lily decides to move on her own, renovating the old farmhouse she is now owner of.
Lily quickly learns that there is a huge difference in thinking of speaking fluently French and being actually fluent French. And that the French approach life differently.
Nevertheless the differences, is living in France exactly what Lily imagined what it would be like? And will Frederique be part of that dream too? 

I always admire people who have the courage to move to a whole different country. I would be terrified to that myself, so luckily I can dream away with lovely books like this one! 

From the start, Lily finds herself in a difficult position. Now that she has been made redundant, she sees this as a sign to finally chase the dream she thought she shared with Ben.
So I shared her shock when Ben told her that not only he didn’t share the dream with her, but he was adamant of also not moving with her!
It’s obvious the two still love each other, but Ben’s decision made me wonder why it would always be Lily to compromise.
That realization also dawned onto Lily,  and I found it courageous of her to follow her dream on her own. 

I felt that in this story there were two major subject.
On one hand, we have Lily moving to France and trying to adjust to the French way of life, discovering that dreams and reality re very different. Yet she manages to make the best of it, make new friends, finding help in renovating the place and finding a peaceful place.
On the other hand, we also have that same Lily coming to terms that her marriage may have come to an end. And while she still loves Ben, maybe they aren’t that well matched anymore.
And that heart-breaking realization makes her wonder if Frederique may be the next step in her new life. 

But also, we see Lily evolve from a woman who always compromises to a woman who stands up for herself, yet never losing the bits that make her Lily.
I also loved how even if things didn’t go well towards the end for them, she still is truly concerned about Ben. And it’s obvious that all those years together, they know each other inside out, and have been through so much together.
And while Ben may look like a total jerk during the most part of the book, in the end, my heart went out to him, when it’s revealed what his struggles were. 

I loved reading this book about starting afresh in another country, creating a place to call home and making new (and even strange) friendships. But also about how real friends help each other out during the most difficult parts.
And what truly stole my heart, making me swoon, was the beautiful, lovely, heart-warming ending. The closer I came to the end, I felt something big was going to happen. And I was glad that Lily got what she truly desired.

How the death of one man devastates the lives of three women…

Synopsis

New from the NUMBER ONE bestselling author of The Note.

As the crowds gather for charming and charismatic SebCooper’s funeral, three women sit in the congregation, mourning his loss.

First there is Clair, Seb’s wife and partner of twenty years, and mother of his two children. Furious at Seb for dying and leaving their children without a father, Clair isn’t sure of her place, and has been left baffled and bemused by the conflicting stories of Seb’s last days.

Then there’s Desiree, the woman Seb left Clair for. Heartbroken, self-conscious, and wondering if she made a mistake coming today. 

And the third and noisiest mourner of all is Noemie – Seb’slover and the last woman to see him alive. 

Three women who loved Seb in their own different ways.

Three women whose lives have changed forever.

But only one woman knows what really happened at the end…and only one truly had his heart…

Bestseller Zoe Folbigg returns with a utterly compelling and page-turning tale of love, betrayal, family and unlikely friendships. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Celeste Ngand JoJo Moyes.

My review

Seb Cooper was a man that loved dearly, not once but three times. So after his unexpected death, all three women are at his funeral.
Clair was Seb’s first love, wife and mother of his two children.
Desiree was the other woman, for which Seb left Clair to be together with her.
And then there is Noemie, his latest partner and last woman who has seen him alive.
All three women are very different from each other, and they have all loved Seb in their own way… And Seb has loved them all very differently, and has been very important for all of them.  

At the start of this story, we know that Seb has died. But we don’t know how and what the dynamics are with the women he has loved. 

Through several flashbacks we get to know how he first met Clair and how they fell in love, and started their family.
We see how they both grow into adulthood together, have lovely moments together but also face harder bits as a united front.
While I did know that things wouldn’t end all that happily for this couple, I saw how good these two fitted together. 

When Desiree entered the scene, knowing that she would be the reason of the end of the marriage of Seb and Clair, I was ready to dislike her.
But I quickly realized that even if she was somehow the ‘other woman’, I couldn’t dislike her. She knows that Seb is married, and she keeps her distance, but sometimes the attraction is just too strong to ignore.
Desiree knows she breaks up a marriage, but she understands that being with Seb means that Seb comes as a package deal. And it warmed my heart to see how well she got along with his children, but also understands when she needs to make herself scarce.
I could also see how good Seb and Desiree were together… So it saddened me to get to know the reason of their break – up. I understood both visions, but it broke my heart nevertheless… 

Noemie was vey easy to dislike… there was not just one bit I liked about her. I saw her as a terrible mother, a liar, a real drama queen, a woman who uses her looks to get what she wants.
Even if Seb didn’t always behave the way he was supposed to, I was totally shocked how he just couldn’t see how Noemie truly was.
And then I am not talking about her behaviour at the funeral. She totally things it’s all about her and later on she even is more despicable… 

The enigma of Seb’s death is only revealed in the end. And with the build – up we have had until then, I had imagined something more dramatic. Not that his death wasn’t, but the author let me think it was way more than what turned out to be. 

In many books we see how a family is being formed, from first falling in love, getting married and having children together. But in this book, we see also how it can all end. Love isn’t a feeling that once you have, it never goes away or changes.
And while Seb may seem like a man who doesn’t stand up for himself, or wants what he cannot have, he also shows the reality. Because even when you think you have reached your happy ending, it doesn’t mean you truly have. 

And people aren’t always good people unfortunately… each and every one of us are surrounded by selfish people, stupid people and people who have a nasty character. That can go from a friend, your new partner or even as close as a sibling… 

While there were plenty of characters that I truly liked and sympathized with, those nastier ones turned this story into an interesting one.
As a reader/watcher, it’s easier to comment or tell the characters what the right thing to do is. But if you are in it, it’s more difficult to see the reality.
And that reality can be that sometimes you make a wrong call of judgement. However, after that clouded moment, you can see clearer as ever what your heart truly wants. But on some tragical twist of faith, that clarity can come too late…

How long does it take to turn dreams into reality?

Synopsis

Lorna is following her dreams. But can she follow her heart?

Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of opening her own bed and breakfast in the village of Glendale for as long as she’d pictured falling in love. While her love life remains frankly hopeless, Lorna is determined to secure Dove House – the home she imagined living in as a child – to start this new venture with her family.

Along with brother Adam, Lorna starts restoring the house to its Art Deco glory, but faced with a whole host of renovation problems and their money fast running out, they worry that Dove House will never be ready to open in the New Year.

When a mystery man turns up, needing to fulfil a promise he made to his dying father and find the object he left at Dove House many years ago, Lorna’s heart goes out to him. But what they find there is going to change both of their lives forever.

Facing problems at every turn, and distracted by her heart, Lorna is going to need all the magic that her beloved Glendale can supply to make all her dreams come true…

My review

Ever since her mother showed her and her brother Adam Dove House, Lorna Ferguson has dreamt of living there.
As a child, she saw it as a fairy-tale castle, and now it’s the perfect place to open her bed & breakfast together with Adam.
When the house is back on the market, they both see it as a sign that now their time has come. But restoring Dove House in its original Art Deco glory isn’t as easy as thought as renovations problems keeps coming around the corner and money starts to run out.
Add the mystery of Finlay, who is fulfilling a promise to his father, and wants to search the object left behind at Dove House many years ago.
Will Lorna manage to get her wish granted? Or will her dream get crushed? And what will Finlay find in the house and how will it affect their lives? 

Oooh it’s always a joy to return to Glendale Hall and see my good friends again! And I am always eager to expand my circle of friends whenever I return! 

I immediately liked Lorna, and I admired her dream of opening her own B&B. and I could for sure comprehend her ‘obsession’ for Dove House. The way she sees the place, it’s difficult not to fall in love with the place myself.
Lorna’s story isn’t one filled with heart-breaking moments, as she had a normal childhood with loving parents and siblings.
She loves her family deeply, even if things aren’t always going great with her sister. But isn’t that typical of siblings? You love them dearly, but sometimes you just want to strangle them too. 

What warmed me the most was how Lorna and Adam decide to live their dram together. It was just sweet to see how brother and sister chase their dreams together. It is not a sinecure to live together with your sibling as an adult, but I liked how they made it all work.
And it was lovely yet also recognizable how they balanced each other out. While Adam was a marvel at keeping the numbers straight and organize all the work, Lorna was the one with the vision of how the place should look like. 

When I started to read this book, I knew that things would start quickly to go wrong for Lorna. An old house need renovation. And I have to admit I had a few (evil) laughs when Murphy and that famous law started to appear all the time.
However, I also admired the positivism Lorna kept having. If I were in her shoes, after the first disaster, I would have given up.
But no, she just keep going, and together with Adam she tries to find a way to make things work.
And when things seem to have reached the impossible, it warmed my heart to see how not only Lorna’s family, from an unexpected corner also, but also how the close friends stand by her side and help out anyway that they can. 

And then the elephant in the room… the presence of Finlay…
It’s obvious that he is Lorna’s love interest. And the reasons why he wants to search the loft and dig into the boxes laid there for years, made me also a bit wary. But it’s quickly obvious that he is a genuine character with good intentions.
It was lovely to see how Lorna and Finlay grew closer together on his quest, even when neither of them knew what to look for.
And when they found it, it was bittersweet to read how it was linked with Lorna and her family… 

I found this a marvellous book to read, about keep believing in a dream and try to change that dream into reality with a passion. But it’s also about family and its dynamics, friendships that truly matters, and compassion and sympathy for new arrivals at Glendale Hall. In short, it’s about love in all its aspects.  

I thought I couldn’t fall deeper in love with Glendale Hall and its amazing inhabitants, but the author shows me wrong again!
And while it can be perfectly be read on its own, why would you want to stop at one book when there is so much more to discover and love???

A woman can never be underestimated…

Synopsis

Tempted by the Warrior

But she’ll never wed

Brynhild had once been close to Erik – until he’d betrayed her, and she’d hoped never to see him again. Now the fiercely independent shieldmaiden needs Erik’s skills to rescue her sister. Striking a truce with the tough, isolated loner they reach a mutually beneficial deal: in return, she’ll help him in his quest to find a wife – by teaching him how to please a woman in bed…!

My review

Once, when they were younger, Brynhild and Erik had been close, even friends. That was until Erik betrayed her…
Now Brynhild is a fierce, independent shieldmaiden, adamant she will never marry. And if she never had to put eyes on Erik again, it would be the best.
However, not only are they now bonded by the wedding of their siblings, but when Brynhild’s youngest sister has been abducted, Erik offers his help.
With their temporarily truce, they are on a mission to rescue Helga. But with spending so much time together and on their own, they realize that feelings of dislike can turn into something total different… But with each having their own goals in mind, can a common ground be found? Or will their paths never cross again? 

Reading a book from this author always makes me happy. Yes, there are plenty written stories that are alike, and the finale isn’t one of the biggest surprises. But why cannot we just enjoy these books without feeling guilty about admitting how much we like them? 

Brynhild is a woman who intrigued me. We know from the first part in this series what a shieldmaiden is, and how strong they are.
And Brynhild, as being the oldest sibling, has always put her family first, and even put her own wishes and desires aside to provide the best for her family. 

She is strong, independent and fierce, but no matter how hard she tries, we see her vulnerability. I liked her for not wanting to do what everyone else is doing. She doesn’t want to get married like everyone else and she even doesn’t know if she wants t have children. So why should she have to change herself for a man?
I liked her fierce spirit, even her stubbornness in doing what she wants to do. But I also liked her for her love for her family.
Her family isn’t the ‘standard’ family unit, but she loves them all dearly. And even if she doesn’t share their views, she sees and understands that each woman has her own path to follow.
She would go to the end of the world for her sisters, and she Is actually nearly doing that for her youngest sister Helga. 

We know that Brynhild and Erik have known each other a long time, but we don’t know what happened between them. And reading how she felt that Erik betrayed her, saddened me. But I also understood why Erik did what he did back then. Even if Brynhild got hurt by the only person beside her family she truly cared about.
But let’s be honest, Erik hasn’t had the easiest life either…
And my heart went out to him for everything he had to endure in the past. But it also warmed my heart to see how things are starting to get better for him. 

Both Brynhild and Erik stand their grounds, even in fights. They have a strength that can be seen miles ahead. They aren’t the kind of people I want to have against me. I prefer them having on my side in a fight!  

I have to say, I found it a little bit funny how in this book, the woman is the experienced one in *that* aspect and the man the inexperienced one. It shows us that not all women are ladies in distress!
I found it also sweet how Brynhild is teaching Erik how to please a woman. Sweet in the sense that I had a feeling of ‘aaaaw’ reading how Erik does his best but also finds himself at loss during those lessons. 

I enjoyed reading how these two characters evolved from enemies to more. But also their actual character made an evolution. Initially they were so bound to the vision of how their lives should look like, but slowly they started to see that not everything is just black or white.
It was great to see how both Brynhild and Erik realize that falling in love with someone doesn’t mean to give up your own persona, but to accept each other just the way you are.  

And on a last note, the ending of this story, somehow a tiny cliff-hanger in my opinion, left me wishing the third book was already out there!

When things get tough for the toughest family…

Synopsis

It takes a thief to catch a thief…

Charley Glass arrived in her family’s lives like the hurricane she’d escaped. But she hadn’t run far enough: the ruthless Giordano family are on her tail and want two things – her life, and the return of the property she stole from them. No matter how many bodies stack up.

After years of longing, Charley finally has the family she’s always wanted, but now she’s going to have to tell them the real reason she came looking them. There is only one way she’s going to stay alive, and that is to employ the muscle of the notorious Glass Family.

The head of the family, Luke, has become embroiled in a dangerous political plot and isn’t sure they’re strong enough to take on one of New Orleans’ biggest crime gangs. But he’d put his life on the line to protect the empire they’ve built – even if they’ll have to take on an enemy hurting enough to cross an ocean for revenge.

Page-turning, gritty, and utterly compelling, Thief is Owen Mullen’s best book yet. Perfect for fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Mandasue Heller.

My review

Charley hasn’t always been part of the Glass family, but now she has proofed her value in building a real empire with her just found brother Luke and sister Nina.
Things don’t always go easy, but Charley stands her ground and knows that nobody can just mess with the Glass family.
But there is a reason why Charley came looking for her family, and that reason is the same one she ran away from New Orleans. Now biggest crime gang from New Orleans, the Giordano family, is in London to reclaim what Charley took from them.
No thief can just walk away unharmed… But Luke won’t allow any enemy to hurt his family… Because there is one golden rule to behold… Family First, Family Last, Glass Family Always… 

I am not a fan of criminal families… And I always hope that these people will pay for whatever crime they committed.
But I think that the Glass family is the exception that proves the rule.
We know that all the members of the family are not on the good side of the law and playing nice. Yet despite that knowledge, I have sympathy for them.
To tell them I like or love them, would be an exaggeration, as I still have my moral grounds. But knowing where they came from, what they have endured and how they manage to show their power, well, you have to admire that somehow… 

In the previous parts we got to know Luke and Nina much better, but the new arrival Charley still remained an enigma.
Previously she appeared out of the blue, managed to proof her worth and is now truly a member of the Glass family.
So I was happy to get to know her and her past better in this book. 

However, it is not a happy past, as we slowly get to learn. I understand the choices that she made in New Orleans, and I admired how she managed to escape the Giordano family. And I was glad that she has found her place and her family.
But I also realized it would only be matter of time before her past would catch up. 

While Charley keeps to appears as a strong woman, we see so much vulnerability in this book. I liked how she wanted to protect her family, even wanting to sacrifice herself as long as that meant that her siblings would be alive.

From the beginning I absolutely despised the Giordano family. And not only because they are after Charley, but mainly because they lacked a moral compass (even criminals have a tiny compass) and also lacked any kind of humanity. While the Glass family rule with iron fist, they are also righteous, while the Giordano don’t see a problem with just hurting and killing people for fun… 

I feared that these clashing families would end terribly, but I also felt some pride to see how Luke was adamant to protect his family. Nobody messes with the Glass family! But we also see the struggles he is facing with him trying to keep being ahead of everything. Not only is he protecting Charley, he himself too is facing some issues, with political involvement. And then there is Nina… 

Nina is the character that I felt the most sorry for. What happened in the previous book, truly broke her and while I don’t agree what she is doing, I understand where she is coming from.
It was so sad to see her getting into a downward spiral. But there were also silver linings as she found people who were there in her darkest moments, with good intentions and desire to help her out. 

This book is best read in its whole series, to understand better each development and each character. It’s not easy to like the criminal Glass family, but seeing them united and by each other’s side is what family is about, whether you’re part of a criminal one or not.

In this chapter of the series you feel that the coin can fall on either side. It’s a gripping thriller, with twists, betrayal all around the place, but also loyalty and sense of protectiveness.
Things aren’t beautiful in this book, yet I kept turning page after page, wanting to know more and hoping that the right family would end victorious with as less casualties as possible…

The things we do to escape our family on Christmas…

Synopsis

Billie is looking forward to a quiet, man-free Christmas. It’s just a shame her family doesn’t feel the same way…

With a house full of unexpected (and unwanted) guests, Billie needs to find the perfect escape to get away from the chaos.

So when her dating app recommends a week of singles nights in her area, Billie decides that braving these events has to be better than making conversation with her dad’s new wife, dealing with her mum’s mid-life crisis or witnessing her sister flirting with her insufferably arrogant next-door neighbour.

While this is definitely not the festive season she had planned, between disco bowling and boozy bingo, little does Billie know that she may find love this year after all – she’ll just have to date and see…

Fall in love with the perfect laugh-out-loud festive read from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh.

My review

Billie is looking forward to spend the Christmas period on her own terms. That means a quiet, man – free and mentioning her ex – ban time.
But suddenly Billie’s house is filled with family, some members truly welcome and some other truly not.
To escape everything and everyone, from a mother with a midlife crisis, a  father who suddenly wants to be part of the family again together with his second wife and a sister who is flirting with Billie’s arrogant neighbour, Billie decides to accept the challenge of her dating app. So now Billie’s agenda is filled with a week of singles nights with a activities like boozy bingo and disco bowling.
With the same people appearing on several scenes, new friends are being made and even if Billie wasn’t looking for love, perhaps one of her new friends may be just perfect for her. 

Portia MacIntosh is one of those authors that make me read her books without having read one word on the backside of the book.
No matter what she has written, I know I will laugh, swoon, even cringe a little bit, but most important, I will have a great time.
And obviously she did deliver again! 

From the start, Billie was able to let me linger on two total opposite feelings. On one side, I admired her, because she managed to create the perfect place for herself, even after her boyfriend left her. I have two left hands, even just putting a nail in the wall required me to call my dearest dad to come over!
And she is truly a loving daughter and sister. She is not 100% sure of the changes her mother made after her divorce, but Billie sees that it makes her mother a happier woman, and that is all that matters.
Even as a sister she is amazing. Jess is not the easiest sister to have around, but their bond is just wonderful to read about, and I liked it how Billie tries to protect Jess when jess starts to flirt with the neighbour. 

But on the other hand, she also frustrated me. I understand that for your family you would do anything. But I just wished that Billie at some moments would just say no… But she sees her own little peace of heaven being invaded by family members, all having their own vision and opinion about just everything, going from the Christmas tree to Billie’s love life.
And yes, to just keep the peace between everyone, Billie keeps her mouth, but why should she? It’s her place, so her rules…  

Reading how Billie wants to escape all the unfolding drama home, making her go to different dating events was something I was looking forward to because I knew there would be some disaster and hilarious bits.
Already on the first event things go wrong for Billie and had me laughing all over the place. And things don’t always improve on the next occasions! There was even one specific event in a grand mansion that would make me run away screaming! But obviously as a reader it was just marvellously hilarious! 

But I also found it sweet to read how Billie befriends some fellow daters. It shows us that even if love isn’t found on an event, true friendship can, even after some initial misunderstandings. 

Obviously Billie has a love interest in this story. And he is the kind of love interest I would like to have myself. It isn’t the lovestruck kind of romance, but more the slowly growing together kind, having a laugh together and slowly realizing that there is more than just friendly feelings…
But as expected, even here things don’t go the right way immediately! And even when things seems to go the right way, another twist brings us back to square one!

I truly enjoyed reading this new book from this amazing author. I had so many laughs, saw some disastrous moments coming from miles ahead (one event even reminded me of Mrs. Doubtfire, when Billie tries to be at two places at the same time!).
But in the end, I loved reading how Billie and her (a little bit dysfunctional) family are all together, spending Christmas together, maturing during the process, and realize that despite they all being different from each other, their love for each other is bigger than ever.

When everyone thinks it’s all in your mind…

Synopsis

Is someone dangerous out to get her? Or is it all in her mind?

Becky’s life is almost perfect. Growing up, she could never have imagined living in such a safe, beautiful home, with a boyfriend as loving and kind as Alex, and hopes for a little family of her own. But then stand-offish Max moves in next door, and things begin to fall apart.

First, someone starts trolling her social media. Then she finds her tyres slashed. By the time she discovers the dead bird, left waiting for her like a prize, she’s sure someone is after her. And having spied some strange goings-on beyond her kitchen window, she suspects that person is Max.

Frightened, Becky turns to Alex for help, but she’s surprised to find that he and Max have become firm friends—and that Alex is convinced it’s all in her mind. But when news of a missing young woman breaks, Becky knows she has to do something. She’s sure she’s seen this woman in Max’s home—hasn’t she?

With Alex concerned that she’s losing her grip on reality, does Becky dare keep digging, knowing her almost-perfect life could shatter into imperfect little pieces?

My review

After a traumatic childhood, Becky has finally the safe and beautiful home she always dreamed of. With her boyfriend Alex now the next step is having a small family of their own. Nothing could be any better.
That is, until Max moves next door…
Not only does it seem that he is constantly appearing to stare at her, now there is someone trolling her on social media, slashing her tires, and even leaves a dead bird.
Becky feels that someone is watching her, and she suspects her new neighbour. But no matter how frightened Becky feels, Alex isn’t giving her the much needed support, as he and Max have become real friends. Even worse, Alex thinks it’s all in her head.
With no actual proof, is Becky truly imaging things? Or does she sees Max for who he really is? And how far and deep is Becky prepared to dig? 

Don’t we all have had that feeling that someone is watching us, but when we turn around there is nobody to be seen?
But how would you feel when you appear to have that feeling more and more? Well, I know I would be terrified! 

It’s clear from the start in this book that Becky is a happy woman at the moment. She has a job that she likes doing, has lovely friends and she is living together with her wonderful boyfriend Alex and they are ready to start a family together.
Yet it is also obvious that Becky hasn’t been this happy all the time. Having been into foster care after a traumatic event when she was five, has made her always dream of a safe place where she would truly belong. 

Her safe place unfortunately doesn’t feel that safe anymore once she has a new neighbour. We all hope that our new neighbours are the best kind, and we hope to become all friendly. But when it’s clear that Max isn’t that kind of neighbour, I also understood why Becky didn’t want to make a big scene about it all. Because in the end, you all have to live next to each other. 

However, since Max has moved, it’s also all when it goes downwards for Becky. She finds herself in situations she has never found herself in before, even at work things aren’t going good anymore. And I felt for her, seeing how her sense of safety started to disappear. 

But it saddened me even more to see that nowhere she could find some comfort. Yes, she has her friends, but they all have a life of their own. But at work, her boss seems to even enjoy the problems Becky is facing, and it even looks like the boss is finding ways to get Becky out of the place.
And I couldn’t be more disappointed in Alex… I understand that it’s difficult to agree with Becky’s fears. But if your partner is feeling this way, wouldn’t you be a little more supportive, even if you don’t see actual proof? 

Talking about proof… yes, someone is trolling her on the internet, yes, a viewing of a house went terribly wrong, even a dead bird has been placed on her car. But nowhere, with exception of some staring contest, there is no actual proof that Max, her prime suspect, is the culprit.
And while I wanted to believe Becky, even I started to doubt her a little bit the further along I was reading this book. 

It’s a slow book, where the readers just like Becky are trying to make sense of it all. Is Becky truly losing her mind? Or is Max after her? But why should he, when they don’t know each other at all?
And while it all goes at a slow pace, suddenly it all went at highspeed. There is such a long build-up, and I feel that towards the end, it all went a little bit too fast at once.
The way the pieces of the puzzle fell together didn’t give me the 100% satisfaction I thought it would give. There were a bit too many things happening at once. 

While this book shows perfectly how tricks can be played on someone’s mind, and how your sense of safety can easily disappear, it didn’t give me goosebumps or made me look over my shoulder myself. But that doesn’t mean that now I will close my curtains even sooner in the evening! Because you will never know if someone is watching you…