Do a single mom and a playboy stand a chance?

Synopsis

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Lily ends up at a party where she drowns her sorrows in the bed of a sexy stranger.
In the light of day, Lily wants to forget her mistakes, including that sexy stranger. With nothing and no one left to keep her in Corvallis, she packs her entire life into her car and moves miles away from home.

Two years later, and now a single mother, Lily meets Jake, a handsome, confident young man to whom she is instantly attracted. If the rumors are true, Jake is a playboy with commitment issues, but his attentiveness to both Lily and her daughter suggests otherwise. Before long, they fall for one another.

It soon becomes obvious why they’re so attracted to each other, and this revelation threatens their new relationship. To make matters worse, Lily’s ex tracks her down and demands a second chance.

Will Lily’s past overshadow her future with Jake, or can their love survive the rough road ahead?

My review

Two years ago, Lily discovers that her boyfriend Tony was a married man. She went to her sister’s place, to only discover her sister was out for the night and the roommate was having a party. What better way to forget your heartbreak to get drunk? But that is not all that Lily does that night… she ends up in bed with a total yet sexy stranger.
So now Lily finds herself being a single mother, living together with her other sister and miles away from Corvallis, where she used to live.
When she meets Jake, she is immediately attracted to him, but the rumours tell her that he is a playboy with commitment issues. So with her little girl as top priority, Lily is wary of seeing and dating Jake. However, even if Jake is not at ease with a baby nearby, his kind and tender actions towards Lily and Ellie make it impossible to resist him.
Even if Lily and Jake are just starting to date each other, how is it possible that their attraction feels so familiar? And what when Tony suddenly reappears on the scene? 

I always truly enjoy reading about stories with a single mother in it. Because such stories always show us the strength of the women, as they, for one reason or another, are raising a child on their own.
So obviously I just had to read this story.  

The story immediately begins with a bang, as we are at the point where Lily discovers that her boyfriend is actually married. But Tony, the sleazebag that he is, doesn’t see it as a problem and just wants to go on as things were.
But I immediately liked how Lily, even if heartbroken, tells him to just get lost. Even if she wasn’t aware of Tony being married, she does not want to the ‘the other woman’.  

Ending up at her sister’s place with a party going on, and shares the bed with a total stranger, made me initially think that she doesn’t have any problems with just doing that. But I liked her even more when she realizes that she has done something so out of character for her.
Now, don’t understand me wrong, I am not judging people who do that, each to their own and whatever makes you happy.  

But what I liked the most about Lily is her courage and her determination. She not only decides to keep the baby after being shocked by being pregnant, but she also decides to move miles away and start all over again. Starting all over isn’t easy, and I can only imagine the more difficult is it when you’re pregnant and are having a baby to take care of.
She is also determined to make her new situation work. Ellie is her biggest and only priority, and Lily for sure doesn’t need a man in her life. 

Feeling an immediate attraction towards someone is something I find it hard to completely comprehend, maybe perhaps I haven’t experienced it myself. But I could understand why Lily and Jake are attracted to each other.
It was really nice to see how Lily and Jake are growing closer together, with Lily being initially wary but starting to realize how amazing Jake is. And also seeing how respectful Jake is towards Lily.
He may have a history of quick flings and thinking more with that male body part, but with Lily everything is different.  

It was funny yet sweet to see how Jake doesn’t know how to behave towards a little girl, but it warmed my heart to see, despite him being out of depth, how he starts to love this little girl and her mother. 

With reading the blurb, I had thought that the return of Tony would take up a bigger part in the story, so I was happy that the focus was more on Lily and Jake and their lovely romance.
Seeing how these two total different people get to know each other and beside the physical attraction, truly start to fall for each other, warmed my heart. 

What I pitied a little bit, was how the title gave away what the big twist was. I already knew what the revelation was, even if throughout the whole story there would be no other tips.

But beside that, I loved reading this story. And while it is intended for adult readers, I found the more heated moments not that overheated at all. But that shows how the author manages to keep the focus on these two lovely characters!
She shows us that sometimes one crazy night can be the best thing that could ever happen and that sometimes Fate has a strange way to make things work, but it will always manage to let people have their happy end.
I cannot wait to see what story the author has in store for the other sisters!

How one lost luggage can change several lives

Synopsis

Brand new from the bestselling author of Under One Roof.

One lost suitcase. Two strangers. And a notebook that will change lives.

For almost fifty years, sisters Dolly and Greta have lived together – getting each other through the good times and the bad.

Except this year, Greta isn’t there and Dolly is feeling lost and alone. In memory of her sister, Dolly heads to the lost luggage auction where she and Greta go each Christmas. But her bid reveals a gift she never imagined.

Amongst the clothes is the notebook of a reclusive woman who has hardly been outside for an entire year, but who isn’t ready to give up on life. The notebook’s contents resonate with Dolly. With the support of her neighbours, retired Leroy and eleven year old Flo, Dolly decides to take on the year of firsts Phoebe had planned.

But, can you have a year of firsts when you’re seventy-two? And is Dolly ready to discover the notebook’s secrets, or are some secrets better left lost at the airport?

My review

Dolly is finding it difficult to move on after losing her sister Greta. They have always lived together, and shared the good times and the bad times.
To keep Greta’s memory alive, Dolly decides to keep the tradition of going to the lost luggage auction as the two of them did at Christmas.
Her winning bid is not only a luggage filled with clothes, but also with a notebook. And while Dolly wants to respect the writer’ privacy, she learns that the writer is a reclusive, lonely woman, Phoebe, who has decided to have a whole year of ‘firsts’. Inspired by Phoebe’s determination, Dolly decides to not only follow Phoebe’s list of firsts too, hoping to also find the woman. And luckily she can count on the support of her lovely neighbours, retired and extravagant Leroy and curious eleven year old Flo. 

I started reading this book with only having read very quickly the blurb. Sometimes you just have to read an author’s name on a book and you don’t need to know more. 

While initially it wasn’t clear that Greta had passed, I liked the idea of two sisters being so close and sharing everything with each other.
And obviously, after I realized that Greta was no longer around, it broke my heart, because I could feel the pain and despair Dolly was feeling.
I could understand why Dolly was letting things slip by, only truly looking after Maurice, her fish.
People always say that time heals every wound, even the loss of a loved one gets easier after time. But I saw perfectly in Dolly’s case that there isn’t a strict timeline to follow. Grief is for everyone different. Some can start moving on after weeks, months while other may need more time. 

However, despite her sense of loss, we also see a very caring side of Dolly. I loved how she befriended Leroy, who is rather eccentric, even if he is still heartbroken. And her friendship with Flo truly melted my heart.
These three persons couldn’t be more different from each other, but even in friendships, opposites attract, and they manage to help each other to overcome their fears and thanks to having each other’s back, they all go through a growing process.

I have never heard of a lost luggage auction before, but I am surely intrigued by it. And I know for sure that I wouldn’t have the same restraint Dolly (and also Greta) had with only bidding for one suitcase. And I liked the idea of how the luggage itself would be part of Dolly’s interior. 

With the help of that luggage, and the notebook she finds, Dolly starts to kind of have a purpose back in life. And that is exactly what she needed.
It was sweet to see how that lovely girl Flo is the reason that Dolly goes on a trip of ‘firsts’ too. And causing Dolly to meet the author of the notebook, Phoebe.

Phoebe is not what I expected her to be like, so I was very surprised, just like Dolly to see her. Yet, also in Phoebe’s case, I felt her pain too and immediately. This young woman has gone through hardship and is slowly getting back on track.
Reading how Phoebe was initially wary and suspicious towards Dolly, was something I could relate to. Why would we trust an older woman showing up at the same places, and who has our lost possessions? 

But it’s obvious that Phoebe and Dolly are kindred spirits, and they quickly see that they are the support they need to step outside again. 

This story also has a few twists in it, some I saw coming, but others I didn’t see coming at all.
And while with also these twists, some heavy subjects are being addressed, the author handles them on a very respectful way. She doesn’t downsize the issues or jokes about it, disregarding the actual feelings our characters have.
The way things are explained, makes us sympathize with the characters even more.

The book has a slow start, allowing us to understand not only Dolly but also Leroy and Flo better. But quickly the pace sped up, taking us on a great adventure, showing us the painful parts of losing someone, the hurt after a break – up, the sense of not fitting in and even the seriousness of an eating disorder.
But while it may seem it’s a heavy story, there are so many light moments, bringing joy not only to the characters but also to the readers.
And it left me with a feeling of no matter how different the people are you surround yourself with, the right people will be of invaluable importance in your process of healing. But also think about how important you can be in the lives of your friends, and how your presence can be of great help to them…

Choices come at every age, no matter how young or old you are

Synopsis

Cassie Lewis, a widow for over 20 years has begun to realise there must be more to life.

In-between working at the family boatyard in picture perfect Dartmouth and raising two children, she wonders where the years have gone.

Both her children, Tom and Polly, have inherited their father’s love of sailing and currently Tom is preparing for a gruelling round the world race. When an accident forces Tom to pull out, Polly, to Cassie’s horror, insists she is capable of takinghis place.

As Polly prepares for the race, Cassie unexpectedly finds herself with two keen and eligible men vying for her love.

With her BIG 5-0 birthday approaching Cassie knows she has some big decisions to make but will the worry over Polly’s safe return, cloud her judgement?

Originally published in 2003 as Call of the Sea

My review

Cassie Lewis is has been a widow for over twenty years and has dedicated her life to her children Tom and Polly. But with Tom starting to have his own family, and Polly with equal happy prospects, Cassie starts to wonder if there is more to life.
However, as a true loving mother, she cannot stop worrying about her children, especially as they have inherited their father’s love for sailing, which terrifies Cassie. And things only gets more worrying for Cassie when Tom has an accident which causes him to pull out from his planned round the world race and Polly is determined to take his place.
And let’s not forget that suddenly Cassie finds herself two men who would want to steal her heart…

I have read several books from this author and maybe this one is my favourite one (until now).

First of all, Cassie is so likeable, not only as a mother, but also as a friend and a daughter. Yes, she has last her husband in a terrible accident, which made her wary of sailing. But seeing that same passion her husband had in her children’s eyes, she does not hold hem back. She is obviously terrified that history would repeat itself, but she also knows that both Tom and Polly have to live their lives how they want and just follow their passions. 

While Cassie is a wonderful woman, I also felt a bit sad for her. Because she has so much potential, still so much to give, but she won’t allow herself to get out there again, to start to think about herself a little bit more.
In my opinion, she is holding on to the past for too long, and even if she is reaching her fifties, it’s okay to start living again, even fall in love again. 

But I think this story is not only about Cassie, it’s about her family in general. Tom has to learn to overcome a great disappointment, but he also is facing a great, amazing change in his life. I loved to read his bits and discovering how even despite his own sadness and even jealousy, he is supporting his little sister on her adventure.

And Polly… wow, I for sure would be terrified in her place! She is a stubborn woman, even a little bit annoyingly if I may say, but that doesn’t take away my admiration for her. She wants to make a name for herself, and she tries to persuade everyone to give her this unexpected chance.
I also admired her determination. She knows that not everyone understands her dreams but she doesn’t believe that love is a reason to give up on what she wants to do. Love is indeed about compromising, but compromising should work both ways, and only if both parties understands what the other person feels, loves and dreams of. 

Cassie and her children are all at a point to make decisions, that will somehow change their lives forever. Will Cassie find the courage to allow love again, with two men vying for her love? While I obviously had my own preference, I understood the pull of the other man. But I liked how Cassie made it clear that she does not want to force things, and she just wants to enjoy the time spend together. And I liked how she slowly realizes who the perfect man for her is. 

I also was proud of Polly’s adventurous spirit. She knows perfectly what she can and cannot do. And even when things get more difficult, she knows who to reach to get her back on track. Her trip also makes her realize better what she truly wants to do with her life, and with whom she wants to do it. Even if this is not the easiest path, she will see what the future brings. 

This book took me on a great journey, showing also what the strength of love for someone or something makes us capable of doing.
It takes us also literally miles into the ocean, showing courage in dire circumstance, but also courage in truly seeing what and who is around us.

I found it a wonderful, amazing read about a lovely family, where they all support and love each other unconditionally no matter what decision they make. Decisions and choices, that make them, and also us, realize that life is not only too short to keep lingering in the past, but also decisions and choices that make us understand ourselves better and understand what course we have to take to live our lives at the fullest.

The higher the rise, the deeper the fall…

Synopsis

When we bury our secrets, they always come back to haunt us…

Their rise was meteoric.

Only a few years before, they had been three friends from Glasgow, just trying to survive tough lives of danger and dysfunction.

But on one Hollywood evening in 1993, they were on the world’s biggest stage, accepting their Oscar in front of the watching world.

That night was the beginning of their careers. But it was also the end of their friendship.

Over the next twenty years, Mirren McLean would become one of the most powerful writers in the movie industry.

Zander Leith would break box-office records as cinema’s most in-demand action hero.

And Davie Johnson would rake in millions as producer of some of the biggest shows on TV.

For two decades they didn’t speak, driven apart by a horrific secret.

Until now…

Their past is coming back to bite them, and they have to decide whether to run, hide, or fight.

Because when you rise to the top, there’s always someone who wants to see you fall.

An exciting new glam thriller for the fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Liane Moriarty and Jo Spain

My review

In 1993, three friends from Glasgow accepted their Oscar for their movie. But after that night, their yearlong friendship came to end while their career took flight.
Two decades later, and Mirren McLean is a successful writer in the movie industry, Zander Leith is a famous action hero and Davie Johnson is the producer of the biggest TV – shows.
But their world is not all the glitter and glamour everyone thinks. Because each of them may seem to be at the top of the world, but are facing bigger dramas than a soap opera. Even if the friends haven’t spoken to each other for twenty years, a dark secret from their past still link them together. When someone is determined to find out what happened in Glasgow, will this be the last straw for them? 

I have absolutely loved each book I have read by Shari Low, so even if this was a total different genre, I knew I had to read this book too.
And I learned that different isn’t always a bad thing, and in this case, it’s the total opposite! 

Obviously the authors took some liberties in this book, as for example in 1993 the Oscar winner was not a film with the same name. or that while some famous and real names are dropped, they are totally not related to real events. 

But while this book is total fictional, and maybe at moments a bit exaggerated (at least I hope so…), it shows us that Hollywood life is all but this glamourous life we all imagine.
And our three main characters show us clearly that no matter how good life seems to be on he spotlights, it’s behind closed doors that the drama unfolds. But also that the past will always keep haunting you and can even break the best friendships. 

Mirren, Zander and Davie have all moved on from that Oscar night, and have reaped the benefits of it, by becoming all successful in their own branch.
But no matter how bright their lights are, each character is facing its own drama and tragedy. And while for some it may seem that the downfall serves him right, I couldn’t not sympathize with them all.
And especially Mirren’s story truly broke my heart, as I can only imagine the devastation and the inability to offer the help she must be feeling.

With flashbacks, we also get to see how these three became friends, even best of friends. And that was in a way sweet to read about. Because they didn’t have the best lives, and their future didn’t seem bright at all.
It kept me wondering what that dark secret would be, as the authors just let the readers guess what happened twenty years ago. Yet the truth left me shocked, even if it didn’t came as a total surprise. But it was more the aftermath that caused the tsunami leading to their current lives. 

This book is being described as a thriller, but for me, it didn’t feel like one. I understand why it’s labelled as one, but I felt it more like a tale about three friends who went from having nothing, to have it all to being on the brink of losing it all over again.
I felt the rawness and the hurt and pain the characters endured. But at some moments, I also felt the sparks of hope submerging despite everything that is happening to them.
These characters may be total fictional, but while you are reading their story, they couldn’t feel more real… 

I absolutely devoured this book, as I just couldn’t wait to read more about these three lost friends, trying to keep it all together while being surrounded by drama after drama.
My fear of not liking this kind of book as much as what I am used to read from Shari Low was absolutely unjustified.
I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions with thanks to the many twists and turns. I went from happiness over the friendship, to feeling a bit disgusted over how someone would make things work in his favour, to getting heart – broken over a few tragic events, but like I already said, there was also a feeling of hope as there seemed to be a silver lining somewhere… Because no matter what you are going through, and no matter how deep you have fallen, there is always a way to get back on track.

What is it with mechanics…

Synopsis

She has no intention of falling for anyone soon – but then she meets Tony.

Susie is a businesswoman, settled, successful, and in love – until one day, her world crashes down around her.

Tony is from another world. A mechanic who hasn’t an ounce of ambition. She’s hired him to fix up her beloved Morris Minor, and she can’t stand his arrogant, judgemental ways.

Their lives couldn’t be more different.

Two people so unalike could not possibly have anything in common. Falling for him is not an option. Is it?

– A strong female lead
– Learning to love
– And a Mediterranean hero.

Fine Motor Skills is a contemporary rom-com novella with steamy sex scenes (18+ readers only).

My review

Susie is not in a good place at the moment. She was a successful businesswoman, in love too, until  the same man she loved caused her her career…
To add even more desperation, Susie’s beloved car Moggie, a Morris Minor, needs to be fixed up. She hires Tony, a mechanic who irks Susie just the wrong way.
Susie sees Tony as an unambitious, arrogant and judgmental man, and while she knows she needs him, she cannot stand the man.
So why is she finding herself checking him out? And why cannot she stop thinking about him? Maybe because perhaps Tony is not the man she thought he was, but is exactly the kind of man Susie needs? 

Why was this only a novella??? That is the question I asked myself after reaching the end way to quickly.
Because I had so much fun reading this story, but I also felt that the author could have written a full – length novel. But it’s okay that she didn’t, because as I knew it would be fast – paced story, I had to enjoy every word of it. And I did! 

When we meet Susie, it’s clear that she is having a hard time. While we don’t know from the start what happened exactly to her, it’s clear that whatever ‘it’ was, she now doubts everything and everyone.
And that saddened me, because Susie is not only good at her job, she has a clear perception of things, and don’t we all do sometimes stupid things because we are in love?
She is also a great friend, and has a great friend, and doesn’t stand injustice or discrimination. 

But she is also guilty in one aspect… she has some prejudices towards Tony. From the start they rub each other the wrong way, and it’s clear that they are total opposites.
And that was the best part, seeing how Susie has her thoughts about Tony, but slowly sees him through a different light. And starts to feel more than what a client should feel for her mechanic.  

But let’s also be honest, it was also just great to see how Susie decides to skip making quiches and wants to learn to fix her car, with the instructions of Tony!  

I knew that there would be steamy bits in this book, so I was mentally prepared for an overload of heated moments.
But after finishing the whole tale, I agree with the fact that things get hot hot hot, but with that warning, I expected more. Now, don’t get me wrong, it got VERY hot at one point, but it was still very ‘clean’ somehow. 

I also appreciated that even in those moments, Tony shows his respect and does not just presume that Susie is okay with it all the times.
Reading how he asked if it was okay to give her a kiss, made me swoon on the spot! And then they say that romance is dead! 

This novella shows us that even if our trust got broken, we can find the right person to restore that trust, even if he comes in the shape of an arrogant Italian mechanic. But that’s life, it surprises us in ways we would never expect but than turn out to be the best thing that could ever happen.

When Santa isn’t that jolly man we all know…

Synopsis

The Santa Killer is coming to town…

One night less than two weeks before Christmas, a single mother is violently assaulted. It’s a brutal crime at the time of year when there should be goodwill to all. When DI Barton begins his investigation, he’s surprised to find the victim is a woman with nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her. 

A few days later, the mother of the woman attacked rings the police station. Her granddaughter has drawn a shocking picture. It seems she was looking out of the window when her mother was attacked. And when her grandmother asks the young girl who the person with the weapon is, she whispers two words. 

Bad Santa.

The rumours start spreading, and none of the city’s women feel safe – which one of them will be next?

He’s got a list. It’s quite precise. It won’t matter even if you’re nice.

My review

DI Barton feels the pressure of closing his latest case as soon as possible. Not because starting the New Year with a clean sleeve would be optimal, but because just two weeks before Christmas, there is someone out there assaulting women. Women who have nothing to hide and absolutely no reason for anyone to hurt.
A victim’s daughter appears to have seen her mother’s attacker and drawn a picture of him, with the words ‘Bad Santa’…
Now all women are fearing for their lives, because nobody has an idea who will be next.  But one thing is for sure, there is a list… And the Santa Killer will not rest until he has completed it… 

This is the first book I have read from this author, and even if it’s the latest addition of his series, it can be perfectly be read as a standalone.
What intrigued me the most about the blurb I have read, was the terror of realizing that the culprit is a character that is overly good. Who would ever think of Santa going assaulting women? 

It’s very often that in books, or even on television and films, that the police officers are totally fitting the clichés we all have.
So I was glad to see that in this book, DI Barton and his colleagues don’t fit in those clichés.
John Barton is the kind of man that when he offers help, he truly means it. He is also genuinely concerned about the victims and their families, and that makes him persistent in  finding who is planting terror in his city. 

He is a very serious man, but also a great colleague. He listens to whatever his colleagues are thinking about the case, but also on a personal level he listens. His team is not just a team of partners at work, but also friends.
He is also a family man, but finds it sometimes difficult to make a clean break when he has clocked out. Luckily he has a very patient wife who understands that he in fact never truly just clocks out.  

In this book, we get to read different point of views, like that one of the DI, but also that one of the victims and even that one of the Santa Killer.
But no matter how much we get to see inside the mind of the Santa Killer, it is not easy to decipher who the man actually is. 

The author manages to drag you into the story, makes you think you have it all figured out, but then adds twists, that makes you wonder what the h*ll is going on. Because even when you think, just like the main characters, the case has been closed, the truth is that we are nowhere near the resolution. 

The moments of terror, and believe me that there are such moments (I will never trust a Santa myself anymore!) are luckily for the readers alternated with funny banters, between colleagues but also between family members.
It would have been easy for the author to add extra layers of heaviness, if the main characters would have more stress moments besides working on the case, but having the characters to be normal, shows us that not always everything has to be going bad in life… 

Like I said, this was the first book I have read from this author, and now I regret having him only discovered now and not sooner…
Because while I felt fear crawling up my skin, it was nearly impossible to put this book away!

Not every guest at your B&B is the same…

Synopsis

Yorkshire lass and dental receptionist Janet Jackson has just taken a big risk. Using all her savings, she’s turned her spacious garage into a Bed and Breakfast, slapped a sign on it and without any experience at all, is now awaiting her very first guests.

With a moody teenage daughter and a crazy sister to contend with she’s already got her work cut out. The trouble she soon discovers, is that guests have undesirable habits, annoying pets and endless demands. ‘Is it bloody worth it?’ she asks herself a dozen times a day. Janet gradually learns her trade – but not without being tested to her limits. The question is: will she come through the experience with her bank balance, cottage and her sanity intact? 

Hugely entertaining but a word of warning: if ever you’ve thought of running a B&B, read this hilarious debut novel first– you might want to think again!

My review

Janet Jackson is a dental receptionist and has absolutely nothing in common with her more famous namesake. They don’t even live in the same continent, as the famous one lives in the States while this one lives in Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Janet has just turned her garage into a Break & Breakfast, a dream she always had, and also it’s a way to become more independent.
But beside her dream of running a B&B she has absolutely zero experience and needs the help of her teenage daughter Chloe and Janet’s sister Maureen. Quickly Janet realizes that running a B&B is not as easy at it seems, and each guest behaves differently. And Janet finds herself going from one crisis to another, and not all B&B – related… 

I live in an apartment myself, but even if I were living in a bigger house and would have the possibility to run a B&B, I would never do it.
First of all, I wouldn’t have the patience, second, I wouldn’t trust a full 100% my guests and in the end it would be just a matter of time before I would start screaming at the guests.
But of course there are people who are actually capable of running it smoothly. 

What I liked about this book is that we see how Janet and her family get ready to start her new business, but that we also see that there is just so much more to take care of than just offering literally a bed and breakfast in the morning.

I admired Janet’s courage to start the business, and the efforts she has put in the place and is still putting in it, to make it as comfortable as possible for her guests.
We see how some things go smoothly, as there are wonderful guests, but also how things can go wrong when guests are not appreciating the place they are staying in.
And slowly we see how Janet manages to find her own house rules that guests need to follow. Running a new business is learning while running it and it though trial and error that it can be a success. 

And that also applies in Janet’s life beside running the B&B (which isn’t a real B&B as she quickly dismisses the Breakfast – part).
Janet is the kind of person who cares about her loved ones deeply, and wants to help out as much as she can.
But the more we got to know Janet, the more ‘alarm bells’ started to go off in my mind. She does everything with the right intention, but I also saw how she did things just to please people even if things went too far. 

I love my sibling deeply, but if I would have a sister like Maureen, well, I would have slapped her several times. And I for sure would have made Chloe clear that that are rules to be followed and that they are not to be bend…
And even her relationship with Peter isn’t an all loved – up one.. 

However, slowly we see Janet grow in the story. She learns that she cannot please everyone, family or guests, but that she has to follow her own feeling.
I admired her when she stood up against her own sister, demanding to contribute more in the household, but also how Janet refused to let her ex – husband just stay in her house too and just raid the fridge etc.
But even when she finally stands up for herself, that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t look out for those around her.
She still helps them the best way she can, but now it’s without losing herself in the process. 

I enjoyed reading this book, as I sympathized with Janet, and slowly saw her growing up and allowing herself to be herself and even speak up.
The variety of guests showed that you never know what people will rent your place, and it was hilarious to see how it went from one extreme into the total opposite. Some guests were infuriating with their behaviour, while other ones were quick in making me like them. 

If there is only one remark I can give, is that while slowly we see Janet getting everything back on track, and I was ready (and very curious) for the next guests to arrive, I realized I had reached the end. But isn’t being disappointed because you wanted to read more of this book, a good sign?

Venice, a place to heal

Synopsis

Fate brought them together, now it’s up to them to make it work…

Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her own loss after the death of her husband.

When the two relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica’s brooding son, David. With his own tragic past, David has resigned himself to a life of solitude. Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.

Can Jane and David help each other heal, and find love in the process, or are some scars too deep to treat?

My review

Captain Jane Reed left the army after a traumatic experience. While physically she has healed, even if she has scars that will always remind of her of what happened, it’s on an emotional level that she still hasn’t healed completely.
Her new job brings her to Venice, to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a successful writer known all over the world, but hasn’t written a word since the death of her beloved husband.
Both Jane and Veronica are finding it difficult to move on with their lives, but being together, Jane manages not only to enjoy her life again, but also helps Veronica to get out of that dark place.
And when they relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside for the summer, and Jane meets the other members of the Cooper family, she realizes that Veronica’s brooding son David has his own dark past, causing him to live in solitude.
Jane finds herself drawn to him and makes it her mission to get that spark back in his eyes, even if that means to come clean about her own secrets. 

It’s not a secret how much I love reading the books this author writes. And no, me being Italian and that the author has a whole series taking place in Italy doesn’t have anything to do with it! 

I don’t hide the fact that Venice is not my favourite Italian city, so I was curious to discover if T. A. Williams would manage to change my mind or not. While initially Venice confirmed all my ‘dislike’ for the place, I also discovered hidden gems of the place I didn’t know before. And add that the characters move to the countryside for the summer, surely helped increasing me liking this story! 

Already in the first chapter I liked Jane. Being a Captain in the Army, and being part of that specific department is something I admire but I also know you have to be right person for doing it. I for sure wouldn’t be up for the job, and we see what happened to Jane when it goes wrong.
So obviously it makes sense leaving the Army, and having the desire to start somewhere new. And with her background and Jane speaking fluently Italian, accepting the job as an assistant in Italy was the perfect solution. 

After her experience in Fallujah, we see only a shadow of who Jane was, which again is understandable. But once in Venice, surrounded by its beauty (yes I see Venice’s beauty too, it’s just the overhyped thing and being crushed by tourists I don’t like, and the pigeons, and the water, and the overpricing of just everything…) but also surrounded by the genuine people she meets, we start to see how Jane slowly starts to see the good things of life again.

I also liked how just Jane’s presence helped Veronica out. Also in her case, I understood her pain, but it saddened me how such a great woman seemed to have just given up. It warmed my heart to see how slowly also Veronica got out of her shell again, and got her spirit back! 

It’s obvious before we even know more details, that the love interest will be David. And while he has his own demons to face, we also see, just like Jane does, his potential. His behaviour may seem odd, and we know that *something* happened, but we don’t know the details.
I have to admit, I thought that his secret would be a bigger one. Not that what he went through is not bad enough, but in my imagination I made up a story that was way worse. 

Jane makes it her mission to help David out, even if he fights it initially. But we start to see more and more the real David, and I for sure could understand Jane’s attraction.
But for me, this story wasn’t only about Jane and David. I saw it more as a journey that broken people took, voluntarily or involuntarily. Jane, David and also Veronica have endured losses in different yet similar ways and are finding it difficult to overcome their pain.
However, sometimes all it takes to heal is to have these hurt people together, sharing their feelings and knowing that someone who understands is listening, to start the process to find happiness and joie de vivre again. 

This was again a heart-warming, wonderful story about ‘broken’ people, finding each other and helping each other.
The author again managed to fulfil my high expectations and even diminished my dislike for Venice a little bit.
Because with this author, it feels like you are walking around the place yourself, you can feel the heat of a crowded city, but also the fresh air in the countryside, and even the wet nose of a lovely dog!
Just amazing!

When you are left on your own, you realize you are not alone

Synopsis

A story about friends, sisters, motherhood and starting again – one day at a time…

Stella fell in love with Simon hard and fast. He was everything she wanted in a husband, and he seemed to feel the same way about her. More than a decade of marriage later, life is sweet. They have three much-wanted children, a successful business, and a comfortable London home. What more could Stella possibly want?

But then, out of the blue, Simon is gone. Vanished. No one knows where he’s gone or why.

Now Stella, with the help of her friends and family, has topick up the pieces of her and her children’s life, all the while wondering what she missed. Was her husband who he said he was, and can she trust her own memories of their life together?

Helen McGinn’s latest novel is a love story to friendship, sisters, motherhood and starting again – one day at a time. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Noble, Cathy Kelly and JoJo Moyes.

My review

When Stella met Simon, she wasn’t expecting to get married so fast and having children. But now, a decade later, her life with Simon and their three children couldn’t be more perfect, especially knowing that their own business is a successful one.
So when out of the blue Simon decides to walk out of the family and literally vanishes, Stella doesn’t know what to do.
With the help of her family and her friends, slowly Stella manages to pick of the pieces of her and her children’s lives. But no matter how things are getting back on track, she cannot stop wondering if she missed any sign. And if Simon could so easily walk away from the family he desired so much, did Stella truly know her husband? 

We know from the start that things will take a bad turn for Stella. But from only reading the blurb I had so many questions I hoped I would get rather fast an answer to them.
Because it is just so difficult to grasp the fact that someone would just walk away from a perfect marriage and his loving family.
So initially I thought that while everything seemed picture perfect, there must have been some  serious problems.  

When Simon just walked out, after a ridiculous argument – if we can even call it that – I was just left flabbergasted. Okay, he doesn’t like confrontation, but if you are not happy in your marriage, talk about it, find a solution, get a divorce. There are so many ‘normal’ options you can chose from, do anything except just walking away without ever getting back in touch!
So yeah, it’s obvious that from the start I disliked Simon, and that feeling only grew stronger as more was revealed… 

But this is not a story about walking away from your family, it is about how to get back on track with your life after a shock.
Stella obviously isn’t having an easy time, her whole life is turned upside down, and where she first was part of a team, is now facing everything on her own.
I hated the fact that Stella followed Simon in his wishes, in getting married quickly, having soon after children, and even if she had so many happy moments, now has to face everything on her own. 

After a time of grieving, I admired how she managed to find a way to move on. And how she realizes that hiding yourself, while you did nothing wrong, is not the best solution. Her husband is a d*ckhead, he is the one who should feel ashamed.
So seeing how Stella has a whole team on her side, from her sister to her best friends, truly made me feel happy for her. Especially when we know that not everyone agreed with the choices she made with Simon. 

And that trip to Florence, while it was hard for her to leave her children behind (always in capable hands, no worries!), it was exactly what Stella needed to recharge her own batteries. This also shows us how she puts her children’s happiness before her own, disregarding even what she needs. But that is just what an amazing mother does.
Add the fact that while it could have been easy to turn the children against Simon, by speaking badly about him, she knows that no matter what, and no matter what his reasons were, he stills remains the father of her children.

Seeing also how resilient those children were, shows us to never underestimate them, no matter what age they are. They understand things much better than we realize. And even by doing small, little things, they show their support, help and love.  

Stella is on a double mission in this story, namely moving on with her life without Simon, but also discovering where Simon is and why he left.
Discovering more about Simon and his actions, truly shocked me even more than expected. And like I said, the more discoveries were made, the more I hated the guy. And even near the end of the book, I despised the man! 

I understood the desperation Stella was feeling initially, but I especially admired the slowly growing feeling of hope that was growing inside Stella.
While initially everything was a tragedy, Stella learns that even if her husband abandoned their family, she has so many people she can rely on. Family and friends are only one call or one text away and they don’t hesitate to drop anything they were doing when help is needed.

And that is what stuck with me, family and real friends are invaluable in your life. Even at your lowest, loneliest moment, they will stand by your side and lift you up again. And that sometimes losing someone is the best thing that could happen, because you gain so much instead.

When your last relationship makes you wary for the next one…

Synopsis

No matter how hard you fight it, love will always find a way…

Ever since she was a little girl, dance teacher Anoushka Cartwright has dreamed of opening her own dance studio near her home on her beloved North Yorkshire Moors. And when she gets the chance to do just that she can hardly believe her luck!

Life is sweet. Or it would be if it wasn’t for her relationship with Damon which has been growing increasingly toxic, much to her family’s concern. Critical of her dreams he can’t understand why she won’t move to the city of York and live with him. He refuses to accept their relationship is floundering until the day Anoushka breaks up with him.

Popular indie/folk singer, Gabe Dublin, hails from Southern Ireland. He’s been head-over-heels in love with Anoushka ever since he first set eyes on her at a wedding two years earlier. She’s the reason he keeps returning to the area, staying with his friends, Lady Caroline Hammondely and her husband Sim, at Danskelfe Castle. Gabe and Anoushka have become good friends, but she’s always made it clear they could never be anything more, which is tearing Gabe’s heart in two. He knows he won’t be able to love anyone else the way he loves Anoushka.

Her family and friends can see how perfect they are for each other but Anoushka is adamant, after her experience with Damon, she has no room for a man in her life. She makes a pact with herself to focus all of her attention on her dance school. And she intends to keep it. The only thing is, it’s not as easy as it seems.

When an unexpected situation throws them together, Anoushka’s feelings are exposed for the world to see. The question is, will she act on them or will she stay true to her promise to herself?

Join Anoushka and Gabe – and all the other Life on the Moors Characters – for the latest heartwarming visit to the characterful village of Lytell Stangdale in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors.

My review

Anoushka Cartwright is in an almost perfect place. Her father is now married with his childhood sweetheart, and the blended family couldn’t be more loving and wonderful.
Anoushka is in an almost perfect place, because she hopes that she can realize her dream of opening her own dance studio, but it’s difficult to find the perfect location, and being an affordable place too.
Anoushka is in an almost perfect place, because her relationship with Damon has been growing for a while into a toxic one. He wants her to leave Lytell Stangdale and wants her to go live with him in York, he wants her to change her hair and the way she dresses. And he doesn’t support her in chasing her dreams.
But Anoushka had enough, and has finally decided to break up with him and to never let another man in her life again, not even popular indie/folk singer Gabe Dublin. Gabe knows that Anoushka will never look the same way at him like he does at her, yet she is the reason he keeps coming back home.
However, how long can Anoushka ignore the feelings she has for Gabe? Or will she stubbornly refuse to take a chance with Gabe? 

I have read several parts of this series (not all of them yet, but I am determined to rectify this asap!) and each story made me fall in love with all the characters and with each story I fell more in love with the wonderful place that Lytell Stangdale is.
But somehow this story touched me even more than the other ones, as the author raises a subject that is unfortunately very real. 

From the start I loved Anoushka. She is part of an amazing family. Even if the members are not all biologically linked, the love between each member couldn’t be more pure.
I loved also how Anoushka just is 100% Anoushka. She is sparkly, happy, and I could see how her presence alone would make the place even better.

However, how amazing Anoushka may be, her boyfriend Damon (I changed his name into Demon, so you get an idea what kind of character he is…), is turning this confident young woman into a shadow of herself. Reading how Demon – sorry Damon – behaved and just even talked to Anoushka, made me cringe… And it broke my heart to see how Anoushka changed in his presence…
So I was truly proud of how Anoushka was able to get herself out of the claws of such an evil person. 

In this book, we are rooting for Anoushka and Gabe to finally have their shot at happiness. But I felt that this was a deeper story than just a story about two perfect people  finding each other.
Because Anoushka slowly becomes her old self again, but it isn’t always as easy, especially as ‘He-who-must-not-be-named’ keeps on reappearing again and again, trying to manipulate our beloved Anoushka again. 

It is very important to understand that getting out of a relationship with a person who is gaslighting you, is the easier part. But as Anoushka shows us, she has once loved that person, and somehow a doubt still  remains. And gaining that confidence back again, daring to chase your dreams again, while you had someone whispering in your ear you were chasing waterfalls, is not an easy task.
Having family and friends who support you all the way is obviously a great help, and reading how Anoushka got to be her great self again, was wonderful. 

Now, I cannot just ignore Gabe, because he is a part of this story too. He is the perfect example of someone who got his dream, but also didn’t let his success get into his head.
Since he laid eyes on Anoushka, he has been in love with her. Isn’t there anything sweeter than that? Especially as she was one of the major reasons he keeps on coming back to Lytell Stangdale.
And even now that she is available, Gabe respects her decision to keep things friendly and that she is not ready to dive into another relationship. 

As a reader, Anoushka’s decision was yes understandable, but also frustrating, as Gabe is exactly what she needs.
And the waiting for that one spectacular moment is sooooo long, but when it happens, it was just perfection… 

While the subject of this book is a very serious one, I had the best time reading it. First of all, seeing how my old friends are doing, was wonderful. Seeing the mischief of some people and also animals was hilarious. But most important, seeing how a lovely character managed to set herself free again, was inspiring and heart – warming.
This is just another amazing success of a marvellous author who keeps on surprising her readers in a most delightful way!