An expected inheritance, but with an unexpected twist

Synopsis

Aoife and her sisters know exactly what to do when they inherit their Great-aunt Detta’s theatre on Halfpenny Lane:

– Restore the dilapidated building to its former glory. 

– Perform together on its stage to packed houses and rapturous applause.

– Live happily ever after.

But they didn’t count on Detta leaving a share in the theatre to her godson, Jonathan. Now they’ll have to persuade him to buy into their vision of stardust and magic – or find the money to buy him out.

As they fight to save the theatre, Aoife also battles her growing feelings for Jonathan. Because she can’t let herself fall for the man who’s about to bring the curtain down on their dreams.

My review

When their Great –aunt Detta passed away, Aoife and her sisters knew they would inherit the little theatre on Halfpenny Lane.
But they didn’t expect to share their inheritance with Detta’s godson Jonathan. And Jonathan doesn’t have the same future visions for the theatre as the sisters do.
While the sisters want the theatre to have a second life, Jonathan wants to sell the place.
So now the sisters, and mainly Aoife have to persuade Jonathan to follow their dreams. And Aoife is not only battling Jonathan, but also her growing feelings for a man who always had a small piece of her heart…

I always enjoy reading a story about how one person was able to have a great, positive impact on younger people.
And that is exactly what Detta was for Aoife and her sisters. Aoife, Mimi and Sive could always rely on Detta, especially when their parents died.
It was truly sweet how Detta was responsible for all the girls to dream to be on stage.

I am very close with my own brother, and I was glad to see that same bond between the three sisters. Aoife is the oldest one and also the responsible one. After their parents died, it was up to Aoife to keep them all together and look after Mimi and Sive. And that resulted in giving up her own dreams and make sure there was a stability while her sisters followed their dreams.

Aoife may seem a bit controlling, wanting to fix everything for her sisters, while they are perfectly capable of doing it themselves. But I understood where Aoife was coming from. Having to look after her sisters for a long time, it’s obvious she wants to protect them like a Mama Bear. But loving means also letting go, and that is something that Aoife is slowly learning in this book.

Inheriting a theatre is not something people say they ever do, so I have no idea about the logistics of opening it again, and seeing the dire circumstance the place was, well I could also perfectly understand why Jonathan wanted to sell the place.

But I also understood the sisters, as it was always their dream to run the theatre and perform there all together.
I admired their persistence and determination, to fulfil their dreams. Even with a few setbacks, they didn’t just give up and kept thinking of ways to make the theatre the place they always dreamed of.
It was heart – warming to see how people helped out, just because of Detta and again her impact on their lives.

And seeing how Jonathan understands the sisters, especially Aoife, warmed my heart! He has his own reasons for wanting to sell the theatre, which we don’t know for a long time, but despite his own wishes, he wants to give Aoife a chance to have their dreams.
It was also sweet to see how Aoife and Jonathan are getting closer, and when Aoife is ill and Jonathan comes to help out, well, that made my heart totally melt!

I loved getting to know Aoife much better, as she is the kind of character that would put herself on hold for the sake of her loved ones. And seeing how she understands that her sisters don’t need her holding their hands, but they just want to be sisters together, was very touching.
She also learns to listen to her feelings and finding the courage to follow her heart.

This is a beautiful story about siblings sharing a dream, doing their best to make that dream come true.
But it’s also about letting go and follow your own dreams, that can match those of your loved ones, but can also be different.
I loved seeing the characters grow to even stronger persons, and I hope that there will the opportunity for the other sisters to have also the spotlight in their own book!

Don’t you always want to know the truth?

Synopsis

She’s in your home…

Leigh Simons can’t say for sure what made her do it. A moment of madness, perhaps, but when the young, loud and gorgeous waitress at her favorite coffee shop reveals she is homeless, Leigh offers her the empty room in her house.

In your head…

Gina is the perfect lodger; Leigh, lonely and frustrated with her life, becomes infatuated with the woman – her boldness, her zeal. If only Leigh could be more like Gina…

And missing without trace.

So when Leigh returns from a work trip she’s shocked to find Gina missing. Where could the young woman have gone…and why?

Leigh fears that something terrible has happened – why else would Gina leave her?

But as she sets out to find her missing lodger, what Leigh discovers changes everything she knows about Gina….and her own life, too.

My review

Leigh Simons doesn’t know why she did it. Was she feeling lonely? Was she hoping that Gina somehow would inspire her? But Leigh did it anyway, and how quickly she made her offer, at the same moment she regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. Because who is her right mind would offer a total stranger, a woman you only know as the barista where you buy your daily shot of cafeïne, to rent the spare room in your house?

But that is exactly what Leigh did when she learned that Gina was lookig for a place to stay. While initially Leigh enjoys Gina’s company, there are also moments of frustrations. And Leigh also struggling at work, with someone who doesn’t understand personal space, an annoying, unknown lodger is the last thing Leigh needs. However, when Gina disappear with just a small note without any further explanation, Leigh wonders what happened to her.But nothing is what it seems, not only whenever Gina is involved, and Leigh’s search for answers turns her whole world upside down.

I started reading this book, having no idea which turn it would take. What I did know, is that there would be no way on earth that I would let a complete stranger stay at my place. So I thought that Leigh was rather crazy in that specific case. But I could also see how lonely she was, and maybe letting Gina stay at her place, would make that lonely feeling disappear.

I could also comprehend the ‘attraction’, as Gina seems this bubbly, fairly kind of person, someone you somehow would admire for just being her.

Leigh is the kind of person that you just feel sorry for. She is in a relationship with Matt, but they are not living together. She is good at her job, but that one presence makes her feel uncomfortable.

She is the suspicious kind of woman, but also an impulsive one, putting her in situations like having a lodger against better judgement or finding herself forced to follow an anger management course. It’s clear I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes…

But I also admired her persistence, she doesn’t just accept that Gina is gone, but she wants a real explanation. And when the police dismiss her, she finds another way to find out the truth. Even when she gets a few scares, she is adamant to find out what happened to make Gina leave.

Perhaps I have read and watched too many thrillers, but my mind went in overdrive. I thought of several scenarios, one scenario being more plausible than another. But whatever my thoughts were, I couldn’t figure out what truly happened to Gina by just keeping to read.

The author manages perfectly to have me sitting on the edge of my seat, reading page after page. Unexpected things keep happening, several twists made me feel more confused than before.

Even if the end and the final revelations left me a bit hanging, as it felt a bit hasted and pulled together, and Leigh’s final action was both understandable and at the same time not, I enjoyed reading this book, and found myself in a rare position of just having no idea what the truth was. A thriller worth of its name!

Loch Ness, a place where you find more than just the legend of a monster…

Synopsis

In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. Hamish has inherited his mother’s musical talents, Fin is the responsible brother, and Angus has the complicated and brooding personality to match his dashing good looks. 

But what all the brothers share is a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by.

Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. It isn’t long before the beauty and hospitality of Scotland captures her heart.

When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.  And as together they find ways to look forward instead of to the past, long forgotten dreams are within reach, and every new day is fresh with possibilities. 

Take a trip to the Highlands with Judy Leigh for an unforgettable story of glorious pasts and fabulous futures, of love, friendship, family and fun. The perfect feel-good novel for all fans of Dawn French, Dee Macdonald and Cathy Hopkins.

My review

Mimi McKinlay is an eighty – eight years young woman, reminiscing her days on stage. She lives in Glen Carrick House, overlooking Loch Ness, together with her three sons.
Hamish inherited his mother’s talents, Fin is the responsible one and Angus is known for his brooding personality.
But no matter how different the siblings are from each other, they share the love for their mother, and are looking after her, which isn’t a sinecure as Mimi just does what she wants.
When Jess Oliver arrives in Scotland for a holiday, while waiting for her own cottage to be ready, she immediately falls for the charms of the place.
And Jess meeting Mimi is the start of a wonderful, caring and loving friendship, and they learn from each other how to make the best of every new day filled with possibilities.

I have read several books of this author, but this one for sure captured my heart.
This book isn’t about a great adventure, disastrous events, but it shows the beauty of friendship and how one person can have a huge impact on your own live.

Even if I took some of Mimi’s tales with a pinch of salt, I truly liked her for just being her. Mimi shows us that age truly is just a number, and being eighty – eight doesn’t mean that you have to stop living, dancing or singing, or even love.
She reminded me of one of those icons, I saws a Audrey Hepburn, a Ava Gardner, a Judy Garland, a Julie Andrews, a Liza Minelli in her.
Obviously, she made some mistakes in the past, and has a few regrets. But she won’t allow them to sadden her, as she has so many things to be grateful about, like her three sons.

I loved how she said that she had a favourite son, but it’s obvious she loves them all very dearly, even if they sometimes treat her as an incapable old woman.
It was funny to see how different the brothers are, with each their own character. they all behave differently, the one more open than the other, the other more business-like while another one has the need to discover the world.
But despite the differences, and even the issues they are all facing personally, it’s obvious that as a family they stand as a united front, with always having their mother’s best interest in mind.

And when Jess enters the equation, it was like a breath of fresh air for the family. She is for sure a very kind and loving character. She has her heart at the right place, and it’s so clear to see the good influence she has on not only Mimi but on all the McKinlay’s.

It warmed my heart to see how Jess falls in love not only with Scotland, but with every member of the McKinlay clan, even if they are strictly speaking total strangers.
And seeing how each character has an impact on someone else, was marvellous.
I enjoyed reading how all the characters spent time together, with accepting each other for how they are, without any judgement.

While the end of the book may have made me feel a little bit sad, it gave me also a feeling of contentment and it was a perfect closure. Perhaps not one I would choose myself, but it fitted perfectly in this wonderful book.

I absolutely loved reading this tale, as it shows us the power of friendship and love. Your age doesn’t matter, as long as you enjoy your life, and love the people around you. And perhaps you can find an old love or a new love above all the other wonderful things life can bring you.

A holiday can change your life

Synopsis

When Charley finds herself suddenly single on Christmas Day it feels like her world has fallen apart.

Forced to move back in with her parents, she embarks on a journey of re-invention. When she meets Ed, who is on honeymoon alone after being jilted at the altar by a bride he’s never met, it looks like her life may be taking a turn for the better.

Fate, however, has other ideas, and she and Ed are forced apart.

Will she find her way back to him, or are they just not meant to be?

My review

The last thing Charley expected to happen on Christmas Day, is to be single. With no other option, she moves back in with her parents, and with a hard yet gentle push of her friend Madison, Charley is going for a total make – over.
She also decides to go with her parents on a holiday to Antigua, to recharge her batteries.
There she meets Ed, who is on a honeymoon without a bride. Being both on their own, they decide to stick together and spend their holidays together.
Once back home, will this turn out to be a wonderful holiday fling? Or is there more for them in store, even if Fate seems to pull them back apart… 

As my own love life is non – existing, I can rejoice with reading a great romance book, as it seems that those books can make up for the lack of romance in my life.
So reading about two people meeting on a holiday, seemed the perfect option for me! 

I have to warn you, when we first meet Charley, and her boyfriend, it was cringe – worthy. Literally the first words of this book made me frow, as I couldn’t believe what I was reading. And yes, I could see why the toothbrush was the last straw…
While I understand the need to save the planet, and I am all for it too, you cannot go all the way into the extreme and just assume your partner will follow.
Because believe me, Josh (the boyfriend) did exactly that and even did a few other unforgivable things.
If I didn’t know someone of my own acquaintances going too far with his beliefs, I would think that Josh was a too fictional character.
So yes, even if I weren’t to know that something better was coming, I was happy that Charley got rid of her boyfriend. 

I could perfectly understand that going back to her parents was a temporary solution, no matter how much she loves them. Going back feels always a little bit like failing somehow, even if you aren’t.
And I enjoyed reading how Charley finally got to be her real self again, with a push from her friend Madison. Even if Mads was a bit too much, too excited, too into the make – over, I think everyone needs a Mads in their lives. 

Before I started reading this book, I thought that Charley meeting Ed would take place earlier in the story.
But it’s only halfway that Ed makes an appearance, putting the focus more on Charley and rediscovering herself. And that was a great idea, as finding love is always an amazing thing, but finding yourself is even better! 

Reading how Charley and Ed meet, and discovering how Ed ends up alone on his honeymoon, was funny and awkward at the same time. Aren’t we all guilty of gloating with reality shows on television? But do we ever think about how the participants are truly feeling? 

However, Charley and Ed show us how it is possible to find someone at an unexpected place. And it is possible to find someone that makes you feel comfortable with, and feels like you have known each other for years.
The more time they spend together, the sweeter they are. I laughed over their shared activities, melted at the more romantic bits and even the hotter bits were perfect for their story.
And I got a little bit heart – broken once the holiday was over and things seemed insurmountable.
Long live Interventions! 

This was a wonderful read, a perfect way to escape the reality of my own life, making me dream away. I enjoyed reading every bit of it, making me believe that even the most random meeting can turn into something more, as long as you keep on trying, hoping and believing (building shrines are complimentary).

No matter what, your family always remains family…

Synopsis

Two decades on from a passionate courtship and marriage, Lucas and Esther are getting divorced.  

For Esther, it’s proving hard not to feel bitter watching Lucas enjoying his successful career, not to mention the attentions of his gorgeous, intelligent, and predictably younger lover. She meanwhile is struggling to forge a new life for herself, navigating the pitfalls of modern dating, while trying not to despair at the cost of living as a single woman of a certain age.

Then Lucas faces a shattering accusation at the same time as their children Dylan and Lily, start to implode.  When Dylan runs away, and as his father fights to save his reputation, Lucas and Esther find themselves back in each other’s lives, whether they like it or not. 

Has too much water passed under the bridge, or will long-forgotten loyalties and feelings bring the family back together, just when they need each other the most?

My review

When Esther met Lucas, she thought they would be together forever. But now, Esther is feeling jealous as Lucas moving on with his new girlfriend, and their children don’t need her as much as before.
Meanwhile, Esther herself is struggling to dive back into the dating pool, and trying to live as a single woman on her own.
But when Lucas is facing an accusation, and Dylan runs away, forces need to be joined to overcome it all.
Has too much happened in the past to stand as an united front, or is blood thicker than water no matter what?

I am part of a generation where children have parents that are still married, compared to current status, where it’s more common to have divorced parents. (I am not being judgmental here, I know that often getting divorced is the better solution compare to staying together).
And being single, I can only try to imagine how it feels when you are part of a unit and then you are not…

In this story, I found it’s not about one huge event, but several (little) things, changing the dynamics of an already disrupted family.
Picking up the pieces after a divorce is never easy, and add seeing how your ex – partner is easily moving on while you’re still struggling doesn’t make things easier.

I have to admit, Lucas wasn’t my favourite person in the book. While when Esther meets him so many years ago, he seemed like one of the good guys, his behaviour in the present is not something I particularly liked.
Especially how he behaves towards their children, and the way he acts as a teenager whenever his new girlfriend is involved, made me cringe a little bit.

This story shows not only how to ‘survive’ after a divorce, but also that even if separated, an ex – couple will always form a family unit when children are involved.
But also that each family is different. And how the family you grew up with, can form your own visions of your own family.

However, I also felt that in this book it was shown that despite a marriage that didn’t work, the differences between two people, when it truly matters, all those differences aren’t of importance.
Because there was a time that these two people loved each other, resulting in two children. And no matter what, the children always have the highest priority, even if that means facing a past you would rather forget.

We get not to know extraordinary people, but normal people with some everyday but also some devastating events. But they show us resilience, strength and an unbreakable bond.
I loved reading how Esther is getting back on her feet, even after some serious scares and terrible dates. But I also admired how Esther behaves like a mother, trying to always understand her children, how difficult it may seem, and always defended them. But I also appreciated how Esther stood by Lucas’ side when he is faced with accusations that can ruin his career.

I enjoyed reading this book, that is not filled with extravagant actions, but with the struggles of an ordinary woman with a rather ordinary life. Life doesn’t go always as planned, and it’s not always easy to get your life back on track. But blood is thicker than water, and that bond will always remain no matter what, even with new friendships, new love interests and new directions.

Everyone can change, despite their past

Synopsis

Welcome to Pepper Bay. A small close-knit community where you’ll find chocolate box cottages, quaint shops, love, drama, and a happily ever after.

Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Phillipa Ashley, and Holly Martin.

The Pepper Bay books are standalone stories, best read in order, that intertwine with recurring characters.

The Post Office Shop: Tilly Sheridan is fifty, perimenopausal, a widow, and pretty much lives in dungarees. Her daily life consists of running her family’s small shop on Dreamcatcher Farm, where not much goes on. The last thing she expects to happen in her life is to fall in love with an ex-criminal.

Rory Murphy has just finished a fifteen-year sentence for robbery, but he is not the man who first walked into that prison. With the help of a mentor, he changed his life whilst still behind bars, and now he has been given the opportunity of working on a farm to help him integrate back into society. He’s expecting early starts, long days, backbreaking work, and lonely nights, but he finds friendship, family, and love in Pepper Bay. Is it possible for him to finally have a good life? Not if his past has anything to do with it.

My review

Rory Murphy didn’t have an easy life and he is the first to admit that he has made mistakes in the past. Now he has finished his fifteen – year sentence for robbery, and he isn’t the same man anymore.
In prison he had a mentor that changed his life, and being a free man again, Rory hopes he can integrate back into society. With the help of the organisation Shine, with its focus to help ex – criminals, Rory ends up in Pepper Bay, helping on the Sheridan’s farm. Working on a farm means long days and hard work.
But what Rory didn’t expect was to meet Tilly Sheridan. She runs the small shop on Dreamcatcher farm in her dungarees.
Tilly is fifty, widowed, premenopausal and the last thing on her mind is to fall in love, especially with an ex – criminal.
But the heart wants what it wants, so will these two people have their own happily ever after, even after their past?

It’s not a secret that I love returning to Pepper Bay. But for me, this was the sweetest, funniest book of the whole series!

I loved the positive message in this story. Because no matter what mistake you made in your past, the people of Pepper Bay don’t hold it against you if you have changed your life.
Especially the whole Sheridan family shows how to give second chances without any prejudice.
And Tilly even proofs that everyone deserves love in their lives.

From the start, it’s obvious what an amazing person Tilly is. Not only because of her acceptance of Rory in Pepper Bay, but also how she is independent and strong on her own. She has loved but also lost and she doesn’t need a new man by her side.
She is easy on welcoming new people, she doesn’t judge someone based on their past. She sees you for who you are now.
And seeing how she accepts Rory and easily befriends him, shows again what a great character Tilly is.

I have to admit, Tilly is a very sweet and kind person, but also a very funny one, even if it’s unintentional.
Each time she has a hot flush, her ways to cool down are so awkward for her but so hilarious for us to read! I can understand her embarrassment, but I couldn’t stop laughing when one of those flushes came!

And Rory… he for sure changed his life around. He didn’t have an easy young life, which obviously made him made mistakes, for which he has paid his dues.
I liked it how he turned that page and has changed his life for the better. Even if I don’t agree with his past actions, I could understand where he was coming from, and obviously seeing how he redeemed himself, warmed my heart.
He is a selfless man, not afraid to risk his own life for others.

I just loved reading how these two lovely people are getting closer. They deserve to be happy together. It was marvellous to see how people, even after a certain age can fall deeply in love. Add a level of hilarity over needing some help at the more passionate moments, honestly, this book couldn’t be any better!

Of course, there are some moments that were saddening and heart – breaking, because somehow Rory’s not totally freed from his past. And wrong assumptions and decisions are being made, making me a bit angry.
I understood where those assumptions and decisions came from, but they were just wrong!

This was a wonderful return to Pepper Bay, with unexpected main protagonists. But these characters were very quickly in making me fall in love with them.
This book is filled with lovely people, but also with love, hope and showing us that everybody makes mistakes, some on a bigger scale than others. But it’s important to learn from those mistakes and change your life. And with people with an open mind and heart, you can find a place to call home, even if you never had it before.
And love can come at any age and in any shape, even in an unexpected way. But it’s up to us to dare to open our hearts again and even dare to fight for our love.

Maybe this book is the furthest away from my own situation/ life, but I think that this may be my favourite until now of the whole series! It’s such a positive book, putting a smile on my face!

With so much going on, is one retreat going smoothly too much to ask?

Synopsis

Welcome back to the Hummingbird Hotel!

When Abbie Coleman is asked to organise a Dance & Desserts retreat for a group of exhausted schoolteachers, she decides to pull out all the stops. With line dancing, flamenco and the Charleston on the agenda, along with a whole host of delicious themed desserts, it’s her chance to prove to everyone that she has – at last – gained the skills needed to be an accomplished hotelier. This time she’s determined there will be no “unfortunate incidents” that make the Hummingbird Hotel look like Corfu’s Comedy Central.

With her big fat Greek wedding to the gorgeous Nikos Angelopoulos only three weeks away, will she finally be able to deliver a retreat without the habitual chaos and calamity the hotel has become famous for? Can she turn a clunky chicken dance into a classy Charleston and a boogie-woogie into a beautiful ballet? Or will she be boot scootin’ it back to London and life as a floundering florist?

Let Daisy James whisk you away to gorgeous Corfu with a feel-good holiday read filled with sun, sea and a sprinkle of romance. Perfect for fans of Mandy Baggot, Sue Roberts & Sandy Barker.

My review

In only three weeks it’s finally happening, Abbie will marry the love of her life Nikos in Corfu. With all the preparations almost ready, Abbie hopes that her latest retreat will go without any hiccups and that she can finally show that she in fact is a accomplished hotelier.
Even if the retreat is a Dance & Desserts one, for a group of schoolteachers, and her dancing skills aren’t really that great, she is determined to put her best foot forward.
With everything on her mind, can this retreat be accident – free? And will Abbie’s and Nikos’ plans for the future be the wonderful start of their lives together? Or will things fall apart before they even started? 

Returning to the Hummingbird Hotel is always a great joy for me. I have loved reading how first Abbie got the hotel and how slowly Corfu turned into her new home, with also finding love with Nikos.
So it’s obvious I just had to read this last chapter! 

Even if Abbie hopes to have a retreat without any problems, we know there is some trouble lurking around the corner.
Obviously, the mishaps are more a case of mischief than truly hurtful. And somehow I could understand why the culprit acted in such ways, even if in the end, the ‘victim’ showed his true colours and good intentions. 

But while the mystery and Abbie’s desperation is fun to read about, I found this more about how Abbie and Nikos are planning their future together, and the struggles they are facing to obtain their own happily ever after. 

It was so sweet and wonderful to read that even after a few setback, the love between these two characters is rock-solid. No matter what happens, I loved to see how they are there for each other, understanding each other with a few words and just having the same dreams, together. 

While one decision they made broke my heart (but I still understood it), Daisy James also shows that makes a decision and letting go is not easy. Wee see that when Abbie learns that what she has built with so much love, isn’t always appreciated.
so I kept hoping that there would be another, better fitting solution… 

Coming back to Hummingbird Hotel, knowing it would be the last time (not counting the re – reading sessions in the future), left me a bit melancholic…
I not only started to love Abbie and Nikos, but all their friends and family too. Getting to know them, and now parting our ways is a sad thing.
But it was also a privilege being part of their lives. And reading how in this book love is all around, warmed my heart.
And I am not only talking about love between the main characters, but also between friends, family and also the love for a place, just like Hummingbird Hotel and Corfu. 

I laughed reading about the dance classes, imaging Felix being true to himself, I enjoyed imaging how the desserts were being tasted (and devoured). I also freaked out when meticulously planned things went wrong, even bringing me almost to despair.
But I also felt hopeful, because this couple, their friends and family shows us that no matter what, together they stand strong and a solution will be found, maybe even a better one than the original plans. 

I enjoyed reading each book of this series, and for me, this last chapter couldn’t be a better ending for this great adventure the author made us participate together with amazing characters.

Love can change people, and not always for the better

Synopsis

She loves him…

Lizzie Green once loved Tom Murphy with a passion that bordered on obsession. All she wanted was his love to be returned. Then one night something terrible happened and Tom left Lizzie broken hearted. She swore she would never let him hurt her again….

She loves him not.

Now, ten years later, Tom turns up on Lizzie’s doorstep still as charming as ever. Lizzie knows he still has the power to break her heart and destroy her life again. But Lizzie can’t say no to him….

Can she?

My review

Lizzie Green and Tom Murphy have been best friends for ever. And then Lizzie realized that her feelings for Tom weren’t only amicable. She truly loved him with all her heart and passion.
But Tom doesn’t give Lizzie any indication that her feelings are reciprocated. And then that one night happens, a night that leaves Lizzie heartbroken and alone…
Ten years later Lizzie is known as Beth, as a way to put that past behind her. That is until Tom turns up at her doorstep.
Lizzie knows that Tom still has the power to break her, and not only her heart. But is she strong enough to say ‘no’ to him? 

I am a romantic type, and I have read several stories where lifelong friends suddenly realize that their feelings run deeper and slowly get involved and get their happily ever after.
But this for sure isn’t that kind of story, it is even the total opposite! Because what happens when feelings aren’t reciprocated or when the person of your affections doesn’t turn out to be who you thought? 

Initially it all begins on a happy note, as ten years ago, Lizzie and Tom are the best friends, and they just do everything together. They even decide to go to the same university, even if Lizzie’s parents, especially her mother, doesn’t think it’s a good idea.
Even if I could understand her parents’ view, I was happy for Lizzie that she would always have her best friend close to her. 

It’s until we fast-forward to the present. And we see a whole different Lizzie, who now goes as Beth. The contrast couldn’t be bigger, as that sparkly, social, happy Lizzie turned into fearful, grey mouse Beth.
And it’s clear that something devasting happened, to change Lizzie completely. And the lack of Tom’s presence in her life, makes it obvious that somehow he is involved in it. 

Through flashbacks we see how Lizzie is struggling with her feelings while Tom turns into a person I liked into someone I didn’t like at all…
And we get to learn how Lizzie becomes ‘the other woman/girl’, and desperately wants Tom for herself.
I got fearful at a moment, because it’s clear that her patience is running out, and with alcohol involved that one night, I had no idea what would happen. 

The more I got into this book, the more I started to have my own ideas about what happened that one night, even if Lizzie’s own memory couldn’t tell her what happened. 

I despised how Tom re – entered Lizzie’s life, turning her protected world upside down all over again. He just appeared out of nowhere, made himself too comfortable at Lizzie’s home and even stared to tell her what to do.
While maybe it’s about time that Lizzie started to live again, it isn’t Tom’s place to tell her how to live.

However, we also see how Lizzie, even if the way she acts towards Tom is the total opposite, doesn’t like the way Tom barged into her life and home again. This time around, she doesn’t just believe everything Tom tells her, and she slowly starts to stand up for herself and is even determined to find out what truly happened ten years ago.  

Even if the revelation didn’t come as a total surprise to me, as I had a feeling that there was so much more than what Lizzie believed what happened, I was flabbergasted how far people would go for their own gain. And the want of knowing the real truth is what kept me going.  

In this book, we get to learn that sometimes we only see the good in people. And that not always people are who we think we are. Unfortunately, some people use us to their own advantage, as proven in a rather extreme way by this author.
The author also shows us the impact such people have in our lives. They can make or break us, their actions and motives can change us, and turn people for a bright person into a fearful person, hiding from everyone.
But even if we are being played, the truth will come out at some point and we get to learn how strong and resilient we truly are.

A summer filled with unexpected adventure and revelations

Synopsis

A Summer of Castles. A secret in ruins.

At the beginning of the sultry 2003 English summer, Robyn Yates quits her job to photograph fifteen castles for a man she’s never met. A man who won’t tell her his real name. 

What motivates her is an unusual ability she can’t explain nor understand. Somebody does though and is keen to exploit her secret.

But Robyn isn’t alone on her journey. An artist is painting pictures of the same castles. Wherever she goes, so does he, like a stalker. But is he dangerous? And could this man be the same person who wants her photographs? 

She decides to challenge him, never anticipating that the confrontation will change the path of both of their lives.

The stifling summer will eventually end, but will Robyn find out the truth in time?

My review

In 2003, Robyn Yates gets to fulfil partly her dreams, even if it comes in a strange way. She has always dreamed of visiting the castles of England.
So what does it matter if she has never met the man who wants her to photograph fifteen castles? Or that she doesn’t even know his name?
But it’s not only her dream that makes her accept the job, but also her unusual ability, that gets triggered at each place she visits.
While she expected to be alone on her journey, it becomes clear that an artist is following the same route. Is he following her? And is he dangerous? Or has he received likewise instructions?
Little does Robyn know that confronting him will make sure that her summer is unforgettable and that both their lives will change forever.

I always had a fascination for castles and having a story where the main character is going to visit not one, but fifteen castles, for sure it had my interest!
Add that we are in England, and it was even better!

Although, I have to admit, that the blurb of the book took my imagination a whole different direction than the actual story took.
I thought it would be a darker story, as Robyn finds herself being followed. And in those first chapters, it would really appear that the artist was not a genuine person.
But the more the story progressed, the more I realized that this is not that kind of story, and I was happy with the direction of the book.

I have to admit, that Robyn’s ability is not something I truly believe in. I believe, as in a book, that Robyn truly has this ability and that it’s not just an overactive imagination. So for in a book I can accept it, but if someone in real life would tell me about it, I would be sceptical…

Also, I wouldn’t know if I would accept the job like Robyn and Joseph did, without more information, just to follow the itinerary, send over what’s requested, but not knowing who you are actually working for.
But that is also the charm of the book, trying to figure out what is truly going on, and how Robyn and Joseph are both lined by the same person (or not?).

Both main characters have their own issues, and are trying to find their own spot in the world, literally and figuratively speaking. But it was also lovely to see how they are bonding together and are able to feel at ease with each other. Of course, there has to be some misunderstandings between them, that is mandatory!

With visiting each castle, I found myself using Google to understand better how the characters would feel with seeing the place.
it made me feel closer to them as I could see myself what they were seeing.

The further along in the story I found myself, the more curious I got about the main purpose of this journey. Obviously, there was a scheme of bringing Robyn and Joseph together, but in this story, it’s not until the end that all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.
And even if at moments it seemed a bit farfetched, I could appreciate the efforts someone would go for their beloved ones.

The author shows us with this tale that sometimes the most unexpected journeys takes us to unexpected places and let us meet unexpected people. But also that one unexpected thing can bring us the thing we were missing the most in our lives, love, acceptance, family and belonging.

Time to reveal a wonderful cover, and the story for sure has my interest!

Synopsis

Joanna is approaching the end of her forties and the empty nest syndrome looms. She consoles herself with gin and chocolate, realising that apart from her son Jack, she has achieved absolutely nothing in her life.

Somewhat on the plus side of plump and barely five feet tall, she finds it difficult not to envy her younger, prettier sister. Such elevated elegance seems so unfair – as does Hannah’s successful marriage. Joanna, in contrast, has remained in a loveless marriage for the past thirty years, stuck in a rut with the most miserable man on the planet but not having the impetus to get out.

It takes an embarrassing but hilarious encounter in the supermarket to make her realise what she’s been missing. It’s exactly the push she needs to make her change her life. With a little encouragement, Joanna starts to regain her independence, finally leaving her grumpy husband to enjoy life as a single woman. As she attempts to rebuild her own future, her family and friends continually surprise her with their own revelations.

Life is never dull, laughter never far away; can Joanna finally find true happiness within herself at last?

Pre-order Link – https://amzn.eu/d/ftHPlMW

Publication Date – 28th August

About the author

For many years Susi Osborne worked in libraries, and later as a classroom assistant in a junior school. She currently runs a business selling all things vintage in an antiques centre. She also runs Northwich LitFest which she started ten years ago. Susi lives in Cheshire with her husband, her family and two dogs. Happiness is a Thing With Wings is her fifth novel. Her previous books are – 

The Ripples of Life

Grace & Disgrace

Secrets, Lies & Butterflies

Angelica Stone

The COVER!