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…

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!