Twelve nights to safe your own life…

Synopsis

The Theatre

London, 1592

When a player is murdered, suspicion falls on the wardrobe mistress, Magdalen Bisset, because everyone knows poison is a woman’s weapon. The scandal-pamphlets vilify her. The coroner is convinced of her guilt.

Magdalen is innocent, although few are willing to help her prove it. Her much-loved grandmother is too old and sick. Will Shakespeare is benignly detached, and her friend Christopher Marlowe is wholly unreliable. Only one man offers his assistance, but dare she trust him when nothing about him rings true?

With just two weeks until the inquest, Magdalen ignores anonymous threats to ‘leave it be’, and delves into the dangerous underworld of a city seething with religious and racial tension. As time runs out, she must risk everything in her search for the true killer – for all other roads lead to the gallows.

My review

Magdalen Bisset is working as a wardrobe in the Theatre in the times William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe are making their names on the scene. And Magdalen is lucky to know both men.
However, in times of need, you learn who your real friends are. Magdalen learns that sometimes the easiest answer isn’t always the truth, especially when murder is involved.
Because a player being murdered, poisoned, at the theatre, quick assumptions make that Magdalen is the prime suspect. After all, poison is used by women as a weapon.
Magdalen now only has a two weeks to find the real killer and proof her innocence. But with not many standing by her side, and a city struggling with many tensions, it’s easier said than done. However, anything is better than being sent to the gallows…

It’s never easy to proof that you didn’t do something, and imagine being forced doing that in the 16th century, where DNA, fingerprints, or even following someone through social media, or GPS on your phone are totally bollocks.
Add a city filled with religious and racial tension, prejudice towards women, and you know it would even be more an herculean task…

The time and place is something I can only imagine about, like every one of us. However, because of this book realization dawned that I had a romanticized view of it.
Obviously, feminism has grown a lot, but seeing how just a few centuries ago, women were prejudiced, accused without any inkling of real proof, made me think how happy and lucky we are to be in 2022…

In one way is was fascinating to see how Magdalen is fighting for het independence and freedom, and her friendships which such famous characters.
But also seeing how quickly she finds herself standing alone, with all her supposed friends to have their own reasons to never truly speak out, show again that sometimes being innocent isn’t always just enough.

But Magdalen has their fierceness in her that I admired. Even if against all odds, she never gives up or backs down. She is determined to proof her innocence and find the real murder.
And even threats won’t stop her own investigation, making her even more adamant!

I didn’t know how it was in 15th century London, peaking with their theatres, but also facing many struggles. And this book showed me that behind every beautiful poem or play, real life often was a struggle.

Even if I am not knowing British history as detailed as I thought, I found myself eager to discover together with Magdalen the truth. And learning how lives can be entwined in several (un)expected ways and how far people will go to keep a secret…

Everyone believes the headlines, why shouldn’t they?

Synopsis

In Rachael Stewart’s latest Harlequin Romance, the second in her Claiming the Ferrington Empire duet, an invitation to Paris with a billionaire is on the cards, but only if Bree is brave enough to take it…

Can a playboy billionaire……capture her heart?

Bree has escaped the big city to heal her heart in a village bakery. But when notorious billionaire Theo walks through the door, emotionally guarded Bree discovers it’s not just her toffee pudding that’s hot and sweet! The man behind the headlines is charming but intriguingly cynical about love. Accepting his invitation to Paris could be a mistake—or the best decision she’s ever made…

My review

Theo Ferrington/ Dubois comes at the rescue when his brother Sebastian returns back to the Ferrington Manor to claim it.
He didn’t do it only to help out his brother, but also to escape Paris where his reputation is that of being a billionaire player.
The last thing he expected was to meet Bree, Flick’s best friend who escaped from London herself after getting her heart broken.
But spending time together at the B&B, Theo doesn’t only enjoy being just Theo, not the billionaire again, but he surely enjoys the company.
However, with no interest in any kind of relationship, and Bree not letting her guard down, will something come from spending all that time together? And will they also turn into a cliché, like they say themselves, or is just enjoying themselves for the time being enough? 

Soooooo… Theo…. Where shall I start?
Theo is not the complete stranger, as we have got some glimpses of him in the first book of this series already. And even if he wasn’t the main protagonist there, sparks already flew around him and Bree, so yes, I absolutely had to read their story!!!!  

Bree is the kind of woman everyone wants to have as a best friend. Not only would she do everything for Flick, but she is also very protective of her, and Flick’s daughter Angel.
Poor who dares to hurt any of her loved ones!
But Bree also got burned in the past, and her ex made her feel unworthy, which in my opinion is just utter nonsense!
Because Bree is just amazing! She is kind, caring, loving, funny, and also hilarious whenever she accidentally says out loud what she is thinking!
I also appreciated how she didn’t start reading online abut Theo or Sebastian, but wants to get to know the person in front of her all by herself. 

So obviously, for Theo, Bree is like a breath of fresh air. Because Theo has his reputation against him, and the headlines surely enjoy to point out what a player he is.
But Theo isn’t just a billionaire player… And Bree sees easily, just like us, behind the façade. Can it be any more clearer than the way he looks after Becca?
It surely made my ovaries explode! 

While being back home, his guilt only increases as he realizes what consequences his past actions had. But guilt is something ugly, because it comes even when it is not applicable… 

I absolutely loved seeing Bree and Theo together. They go from being wary, to give in the attraction, fighting of not becoming a cliché (you’ll know what I mean when you read this book!) yet obviously becoming one! 

Both characters are fighting against growing feelings, but don’t we all know that is an impossible task? Because the heart doesn’t take orders from the head. And even if the heart got broken, that doesn’t mean it cannot be healed anymore.
And no matter how hard we try to hide our true selves, the right person sees right behind that mask (and headlines) and sees who we really are.

Rachael Stewart managed again to write a captivating story, with maybe less heated described in it. But the heat sparks from the pages anyway. And that is a talent this author has, with a few words, you completely turn into a puddle, imagining smouldering looks, innuendos and just great characters!

Heritage Cove, where even the latest inhabitants lose their hearts

Synopsis

Welcome back to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship. The perfect place to fall in love…

Running Heritage View Stables is everything Hazel ever dreamed of. She loves working with the horses and managing the business with her brother. But after a terrible incident, she’s not sure whether she’ll ever be able to put things back the way they were.

Gus is ready to start over. He’s moved him and his ten-year-old daughter Abigail to Heritage Cove, where he’s opening his own vet practice. Everything is falling into place, especially as he watches Abigail start to come out of her shell for the first time since the accident.

Neither Hazel nor Gus is looking for love, but could they each be what the other needs? And is happiness even a possibility when their pasts won’t let them go?

Join new friends and old, as summer comes to Heritage Cove.

My review

Hazel loves running Heritage View Stables together with her brother. But things aren’t going as smoothly, as an incident made Hazel fearful to return to her teaching lessons.
With her brother Arnold’s schedule being full, Hazel taking over some lessons would be a much better solution than refusing new pupils.
When Gus and his daughter Abigail arrive at Heritage Cove, Heritage View Stables is the obvious choice for their horse Denby.
While Abigail adores Denby and just horses in general, Gus wants her to take lessons to grow her confidence.
But why is Hazel so stoically refuses to take Abigail under her wings even if it’s clear what a good influence Hazel has on Abigail?
Gus’ heart melts seeing how Abigail is getting out of her shell, and his daughter is his only priority while setting up his vet practice.
With two people not looking for love, could horses be the link to bring them together despite their own fears? 

Okay, I love Heritage Cove and its inhabitants, and I want to live there myself. This is not the first time I said it, so it’s not a big surprise I was happy to start with this new chapter in this series!
And did this author deliver? ABSOLUTELY!!! 

I am not a horse – lover myself. It’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just that they are so big and I am a scaredy – cat, so I would be terrified not knowing how such a majestic animal can behave unexpectedly. But that doesn’t mean I cannot see the beauty of such great animals from far far away. 

It’s obvious that Hazel loves looking after the horses and treats them with respect, care and much love. And it’s unfortunately also very obvious that she has been traumatized after an incident. Seeing how fear held Hazel back from doing something she loves to do, broke my heart a little bit. But I could also perfectly comprehend her (remember, scaredy – cat here!).
She is also a very sensitive character, as she disapproves aggressive behaviour and hates voices being raised. 

So I could understand her wariness around Gus, because the second time she saw him, he didn’t make a good impression.
Gus… talking about an entrance here! I surely didn’t expect our male main character doing *that* but it surely put a smile on my face!
Having this books showing us two points of view, made it possible to understand his behaviour so much better. He wants to protect Abigail from every kind of evil in the world, making him a bit too overprotective.
But with what Abigail had to endure, who wouldn’t be too protective over such a lovely girl? 

Abigail, that is absolutely a sweet girl that will steal everyone’s heart! And seeing the interaction between her and Hazel, warmed my heart!  

I found this a slow – burning romance, but without the romance being the headliner. Because both main characters have their own focus and also fears.
While it may be easy to say to get back on your horse, it’s always easier said than done. And taking that first, small step, can be the most terrifying thing you’d ever do. 

This was a marvellous next book in an amazing series. And while the expectations were very high, with even a small fear of getting a disappointment, this author delivered and even went beyond!

Even the best friends don’t share everything…

Synopsis

Follow your heart and then your dreams…

Best friends since childhood, Fern Chambers and Stella Shaw have been through everything together and are at a crossroads in their lives.

Carefree Stella has a monumental secret and put upon Fern’s happy life is not all it seems.

With their 40th birthdays approaching, a luxury holiday to the island of Capri is a chance for them to reconnect, let their hair down and celebrate in style. But untold truths and frustration bubble beneath the surface, turning what should be a holiday of a lifetime into an opportunity to make life-changing decisions.

Far from home, where anything feels possible, secrets are revealed, heartache is shared, love discovered and new friendships forged.

Will their Italian dream turn into a nightmare or lead to newfound happiness?

My review

Fern Chambers and Stella Shaw have been best friends since childhood. Even when their lives took different turns, they were the only constant in each other’s lives and the one constant.
With their 40th birthday approaching, Stella decides to celebrate in style and luxury and her win at the lottery makes it easy to go on o holiday in wonderful Capri.
But what was supposed to be a dream holiday, quicky turns out to be a holiday where secrets are being revealed and where it’s obvious that not everyone is having the happy life they wished for.
Will this holiday make or break a friendship which everyone thought would be unbreakable? And with new friendships, love and passion, how will these two women return to their homes? 

A moment of honesty before I start with my thoughts of this book… And I know many people won’t understand my feelings, but just let me be.
While I truly appreciate the beautiful places in Italy, I don’t adore Capri… I understand why people are attracted by the place, because there are wonderful places there, but if I were told that I would never visit the place again, I cannot say I would be heartbroken.
I could think of many other places in Italy that I prefer to visit… 

But back to this book!  

I truly like it when friendships stand the test of time, and no matter how the people changed during their lives, they still have that person in their lives that stood by their side all the time.
So I was happy to start reading this book, and wanted to know what this author had in store for Fern and Stella. 

It warmed my heart how these two women are still each other’s rock even if they are totally different and are at different points in their lives.
And when Stella treats her best friend after her lottery win, it showed again how deeply these women care about each other. 

I was intrigued how this holiday would go for the two ladies with their daughters. Even if Fern’s daughter was rebellious character, even pushing my buttons, it’s clear that despite some frustrations there is that love between just all of the (young) women. 

I also appreciated the respect Stella and Fern had. They wanted to do different things, but there were no hard feelings when they split up to do what they truly wanted. And that is again proof of an amazing friendship. Being friends doesn’t mean to do everything together, but also understand that someone’s interests aren’t necessary the same as your interests. 

I had fun with Stella on her trip on the yacht, but I also relaxed together with Fern during her visit in the retreat.
I could appreciate both women’s way to relax and enjoy their holidays. 

However… there are kept secrets too in this story. And while I was rather quickly in guessing what that was, I also felt that the person concerned should have had an inkling and I was even a bit angry at how in some level trust got broken by some rash actions. 

Even if there were serious regrets, it’s obvious money can’t buy happiness or forgiveness. But only time can heal some deep wounds. And true friendships can stand the most difficult tests.

What also stood out in this book, is that we are never too old to change direction in our lives. Or just understand what we want from life and what makes us happy.

I enjoyed reading this book, as it showed me so many aspects in life that can go wrong, but also so many aspects that can go right, even if it may seem scary to take that step.
But with courage, forgiveness, friendship and love, your life can take a turn you never imagined and fill the voidness we don’t always know we had.

How to keep calm when your past resurfaces?

Synopsis

Layla is calm, in control and is definitely not about to lose her serenity for the man next door!
Surely it can’t be hard to stay peaceful at one of the oldest yoga and mindfulness retreats in the Algarve, surrounded by sea, sun and serenity? Mostly, owner Layla Garcia manages it – with the help of meditation and plenty of camomile tea, of course.
But keeping her grandparents’ legacy alive is stressful, and Layla has become so shackled to the work that, for her, The House on the Hill is fast becoming ‘The Fortress on the Hill’.
Then writer Luke Mackie moves to the villa next door, bringing with him a healthy dose of chaos to disrupt Layla’s plans, plus a painful reminder of a time when she was less-than-serene. But could his influence be just what Layla needs to ‘dance like no-one’s watching’ and have the fun she’s been missing?

My review

Layla is doing her utterly best to keep her grandparent’s legacy, the yoga and mindfulness retreat The House on the Hill, alive.
But that is easier said than done, and no amount tea can keep Layla calm and ahead of things. She stays on top of everything, and even if things get difficult a little bit, why change a working recipe?
And then writer Luke Mackie moves in the villa next door, and suddenly everything turns into chaos. Adding that Luke is part of a past that Layla tries to forget, doesn’t make things easier at all… 

Don’t we all have regrets from when we were young? But how many of those mistakes were really that big of an issue when we think about it now? Not many, right?
Unfortunately that is not Layla’s case… what happened in her past, had such a deep impact on her, that it did not only make her change her appearance again, but also changed Layla’s character.

Layla enjoys running the retreat, but is struggling also with the many issues it’s having. And while many suggestions are being made, she sticks to what she knows and won’t look for any changes.
That made me wonder what happened to her, to be so stoic about not accepting those ideas, because in my opinion, they were good suggestions.
It also bothered me that Layla had no outlet, nothing fun to do. We all need that one thing to release our stress, and chamomile tea surely isn’t the perfect answer! 

Slowly we get to know what burden she is still carrying around, and when it was all revealed, I was repulsed by the actions of some characters.
And seeing how those characters did not learn from the pat, infuriated me. So I was glad that those characters weren’t a prominent presence in this book, but just a dark shadow. 

A dark shadow that also hunts Luke Mackie…
While Luke’s and Layla’s lives are so different from each other, and there doesn’t seem to be a link between them, it was nice to see how the past and present got together.
Even if reluctant, Layla sees that Luke is not in a happy place at the moment in his life, and she tries to help him to see the beauty of it, and tries to help him find his inspiration back. 

I very much liked how these two characters, both carrying their own burdens, and even slightly forced, are spending time together.
Seeing how they start to see Life through the other one’s eyes, understanding the importance of finding an oasis of calmness, but also daring to change course, was not only eye – opening for the characters but also for the readers. 

This story shows us how the past can hold us back, but also how releasing everything and enjoy the things again that made us happy in the past, can make us all better again, even if we didn’t know we weren’t doing okay…  

I had several laughs, but I also felt so much compassion for our main characters, and this book made me realize that just doing okay is not okay…
Add a beautiful setting as the Algarve, and we have a complete package, which includes a lesson that Life doesn’t always go as we would want, but we can make it change direction, as long as we can put the past behind us. And that some things from the past aren’t all that bad, on the contrary, they can be the best thing we ever had!

You can only start to dream when you have complete closure…

Synopsis

Samantha has a secret. Returning home from her dream honeymoon to the normality of running her beloved Hedgehog Hollow rescue centre, she’s ready for the next chapter of her life with Josh. Or is she? Samantha is hiding something which could forever change the dreams they shared and bring their happy ever after crashing to the ground.

Lauren has given up on love. Twenty-six years ago the love of her life, Shaun, left her a note and was never seen again. Two painful divorces later she still can’t face opening up to anyone. But little does Lauren know that the closure she’s dreamt of for all these years may be closer than she thinks, and perhaps the only way to let new love in is to forgive and forget.

Samantha and Lauren will need the love and support from the Hedgehog Hollow family more than ever. After all, some dreams are worth chasing…

My review

Having had the wedding they dreamed of, Samantha and Josh are looking forward to start their lives together after an amazing honeymoon. Yet already during the honeymoon, Sam is having doubts. Obviously not about the love between the two of them, but about the decision they took together. Will these doubts put everything that was built so slowly at risk?

And what about Josh’s Auntie Lauren? Her husband walking out on her so many hears ago without giving her any explanation, made it impossible for her to truly open up to anyone else, even if she has faced already a second divorce. But is love coming her way in a way she saw coming? Or is it in an unexpected way? And does she dare to open up her heart?

Both Sam and Lauren are standing at crossroads at their lives, but no matter where their lives will take them, Hedgehog Hollow will always be needing their help.

It’s not a secret that I absolutely adore this series from this amazing author. And it’s common knowledge that the lack of tissues in Belgium is totally my fault while reading these books.

But Belgium, do not worry anymore, because for this book, not one tear was spilled! And no, it doesn’t mean I didn’t like this book as much as the previous ones.

Sam is being constant in being Sam. Even if it may seem she has everything she could ever wish for, she still has her doubts and fears. While it was sometimes frustrating reading about her fears and not wanting/daring to express them, because we know Josh loves her unconditionally, it shows again how human, real and illogical our fears can be. Because don’t we all say one thing, and then start doubting what we said?

But no matter what, her love for hedgehogs and her desire to help them all never diminish. And the love as a reader for hedgehogs only grows!It was also a kind of refreshing that there wasn’t a major drama in this book, like a reappearance of a certain horrible family…

And it allowed us to focus on Lauren, Josh’s aunt…

Slowly we learn about her past and both her marriages. The focus is on her first marriage, as it was the catalyst of being who she is now.

And it broke my heart to read how Lauren’s heart got broken. When a marriage ends, most of the times the involved parties know the reason of the ending. But Lauren, having no idea, having no clues even afterwards and not even getting all the answers later on, it was just so sad…

So obviously, I truly hoped she would get some closure and even a new chance at love. However, the love interest was not what I expected, especially as we saw in the previous book that something was starting to bloom… But maybe on the other hand, it was even better like this, because this new character is even a better fit!

I loved, loved, loved reading this marvellous next chapter in the series. Jessica Redland manages perfectly to grasp the humanity in each character, and yet keeps surprising us.

I have to admit, when Shaun made a reappearance, I wasn’t totally surprised by it, as a few tips were given, but I admired the courage of the author, and the character, of broaching this topic. While many would not understand it, Jessica manages to show again the humanity of facing the reality of it.

I know that the series is slowly reaching its end. And while it breaks my heart a little bit, as I truly love each character and each little hedgehog, I am already looking forward to the next chapter. And I hope that everyone, somehow and someway, get their happy ever after, like they deserve! And if they don’t, I will come and haunt you down Jessica! Because you don’t write such amazing characters and wonderful stories without a happy end!!!

Love and faith are easy to believe in when all goes well, but what when it doesn’t anymore?

Synopsis

Midwife Izzy is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is dying. Abandoned as a baby by her own mother, her grandparents have been the only family Izzy has ever known and she wants to spend every last precious moment with them.

New locum vicar, Noah, is a wonderful support – kind, considerate and always there for Izzy whenever she needs a shoulder to cry on. But secretly Noah is battling his own doubts about his faith – how can he offer Izzy comfort if he doesn’t truly believe his own words?

When Izzy and Noah are brought together to support grieving parents, Noah reaches breaking point. He can’t stay in Port Agnes and live a lie. But Izzy is adamant it’s the only place she can be….

Will love find a way or will Izzy’s hopes of a future be dashed?

My review

Midwife Izzy may have the most selfish mother on earth, but she also has the best grandparents of just the whole universe. They raised her while her own mother abandoned her and they gave Izzy all the love they had. But Izzy has recently learned that her beloved grandmother is dying, and so Izzy wants to spend every moment with Eileen.
And Eileen herself finds comfort at the vicarage and finds a listening ear in the form of new locum vicar Noah.
While Noah tries to be there for everyone in Port Agnes, and that includes offering his support to Izzy, even if he is struggling with his own doubts with his faith.
And when Izzy and Noah are brought together with their helping out grieving parents, they realize that there is more than just friendship.
But when Noah reaches his breaking point, is their new relationship strong enough for this big test? Or is it all over before it even began?

It’s not a secret I have fallen in love with this series! So I was very eager to start reading this next chapter and getting to know Izzy better.
While I thought what I would get into to, I didn’t expect that the expected rollercoaster of emotions would be such a big one!

If there is someone who doesn’t love Izzy, it’s definitely you, not her!
Izzy is one of the kindest, caring, loveable persons in the writing world. Her love for her grandparents is obvious from every word and act.
She knows that she has the best grandparents in the world, and they have given her everything her mother didn’t.
And I could completely comprehend how Izzy didn’t want to hear anything from her mother, or even being disgusted by her mother’s behaviour.
Even I was repulsed by it, and I knew it was fiction!

And if I were ever having a baby of my own (after finding my Prince Charming obviously), I just wish I could go to port Agnes, as Izzy and the other midwives are just amazing! Each Midwife going beyond their strict duty and seeing how a terrible event shakes Izzy, showed me again what amazing people there are in Port Agnes.

Even the latest addition, Noah stole a piece of my heart. Despite him having doubts around his faith, and not knowing where his future is, he is there for everyone in need and offers advice and kind words.
What I liked about him too, was that he is so down to earth. He knows what people think of him, but he wants to be known for his good actions, and not for the way he looks.
The reason of him doubting his faith was a terrible event in his past, which I could understand. And it made Noah a more realistic person. Because doesn’t everyone has a moment of doubt? And not just about faith, but about what direction we want our lives to take and if previous choices were the right one.
It doesn’t matter if Noah is a vicar or just a ‘normal’ person, because having doubts is what makes us human.

Seeing Izzy and Noah together is just something that warmed my heart. The way Noah easily fitted in Izzy’s family, and even understood Izzy’s feeling towards her mother, was proof how just perfect they are together. And when he makes the most stupid decision ever, I could see what his reasoning was. While not agreeing with him, I saw what he was doing, and it was all for Izzy…

Now, be warned, because while reading, you will definitely need tissues, as I absolutely did! There were moments I had tear after tear falling of my face, even needed a moment to get myself back together…
The author wrote such loving characters, that I wanted only the best for them. But obviously, life isn’t only filled with the good stuff. So when the heart – breaking moments arrived, I wanted to rewrite the story myself, as the characters didn’t deserve to endure those terrible moments!

But the main feeling I had after finishing this lovely book, was the feeling of love. Because this book is filled with love in so many different ways. The love between grandparents and grandchildren, the love of parents for their (unborn) children, love for your job, love for people around you, and even the love animals have for their owner and the other way around. Because let me tell you, Pablo and Franny surely stole a piece of my heart, with their enthusiasm but also comprehension and their offering comfort in their own little ways…

Even with the many tissues I had to use, this was an amazing, heart-warming book to read!

When something fun turns out to be the revelation of an unknown past

Synopsis

What if the key to your present lies in the past?

London, 1939
On the eve of the Second World War, Canadian Maggie Wyndham defies her family and stays in England to do her bit for the war effort. Torn between two countries, two men and living a life of lies working for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Maggie’s RAF sweetheart locket is part of who she is…and who she isn’t.

San Francisco, 2019
Over twenty years after Maggie’s death, her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow take a DNA test that’s supposed to be a bit of fun but instead yields unexpected results. Willow has always treasured her grandmother’s sweetheart locket, both family heirloom and a symbol of her grandparents’ love story. But now she doesn’t know what to believe. She embarks on a search for the truth, one she doesn’t know will reveal far more about herself…

A gripping and heart-breaking dual timeline novel about love, loss and buried secrets, The Sweetheart Locket is perfect for fans of Lorna Cook, Rachel Hore and Suzanne Kelman.

My review

The last thing that Willow expected when she took a DNA test for fun with her whole family, was discovering that her ancestry was not what everyone thought.
Willow always believed that that their grandparents had the greatest love story, and that’s why she treasured her grandmother’s sweetheart locket.
Wanting to know the truth, Willow decided to make the trip van San Francisco to London, to see if she can find more about her grandmother Maggie, who in 1939 decided to stay in London and not return to Canada.
And with her wish to do her bit for the war, Maggie finds herself falling in love, working for the  Special Operations Executive and learn how much a heart can be broken. But one thing she will always keep with her, is her sweetheart locket…

When I start reading a book with dual timelines, I am always a bit scared that one character won’t have enough spotlight and making me not completely bond with that character.
So I was relieved to see not only the length of the book, but also seeing how both Willow and Maggie got their spotlight.

Maggie and Willow are two characters different from each other, yet so much alike too.
As Willow grew up in not the easiest circumstances, and her own adulthood hasn’t been a walk in the park either, receiving the notice that she is not what she thought she was, I could see how it devastated her. And I could surely understand why she wanted to discover the truth and the past of her beloved grandmother.

And Maggie finding herself in London all alone, I could see her struggles too. But I also saw her determination, as she becomes of an added value with her work. But also seeing her to go from a bit of an ‘innocent’ girl into adulthood, with everything that comes along with it.
Maggie is the kind of woman I would have liked to have known myself, as she doesn’t make a distinction based on your background. She likes you for who you are.
Falling in love during wartime isn’t easy, but it warmed my heart seeing how Maggie fell in love for the first time. And he couldn’t be any more perfect!

Unfortunately, the War makes no distinction either, and seeing Maggie getting heartbroken, broke my heart too.
But even after her most difficult moment, I admired Maggie’s resilience.

I can go on and on describing what happens to each woman, and while it may seem that the focus is more on Maggie, we get to know Willow also much better.
The more Willow is doing her research in London, together with her new friend, Dermot, the more I saw the similarities between both women. Not only their strength and determination, but also their vulnerabilities.

This was a lovely book to read, with secrets and (un)expected twists. It took my on a journey where characters are discovering themselves, learning every bit of life, and finding strength to move forward.
I liked both characters equally, as their stories were entwined, but even if their paths took them to different directions, but found each other closer, even if separated through time and place.

Sometimes, love is as easy as A to Z…

Synopsis

Experience has told Jenna Oakhurst that Happy Ever After may happen in all the best stories, but Happy For Now is the best one ought to expect in real life. Yet lately even that isn’t quite enough, so when a strange set of circumstances leads her to discover a mysterious letter in an abandoned storage unit, she takes the chance to embark on a journey into the unknown…just like the heroines from the storybooks.

Reaching out to the letter’s author, Henry Somners, changes Jenna’s world irrevocably and she starts to realise that the magic she believed in as a child might not be such a fanciful notion after all…

My review

Growing up, Jenna Oakhurst has learned that Happy Ever Afters are only for in stories, but in real life there are only Happy For Nows. And proof is her current relationship.
Matt is more focused on his way to make money without too many efforts, and that is the same way he sees his relationship: not putting too much effort in it.
Being a helping hand again with clearing out an abandoned storage unit, Jenna finds a mysterious letter and she is determined to find whoever wrote it to return it to sender.
And with her success, as she finds the author, Henry Somners, will she also find her Happy Ever After, or is meeting Henry again a case of being too good to be true? 

When we were young, didn’t we all believe that Happy Ever After was a real thing? That one day we would meet our Prince Charming and it would be all sunshine and rainbows from there on?
And with growing up, we learned that Love isn’t like that and is always a work in progress, where two people who love each other have to put in the same efforts to keep things working. 

In this story, Jenna doesn’t believe in love, not even in the sense of the keep on working on it version. She only believes that love can give you happiness for a limited moment.
And seeing Jenna like that saddened me, because, despite me not having found my Prince Charming myself, I keep on believing that he is out there somewhere. And that sometimes we have to encounter many frogs before our Prince emerges. 

Jenna isn’t happy in her relationship, and I couldn’t blame her. It’s one thing if both parties are equally putting an effort in it, but it’s obvious that Matt is more concerned with his friend and dubious affairs, than investing his time and love in Jenna.

However, Jenna is obvious also a romantic type. And this side clearly emerges when she finds the mysterious letter.
She wants to find the writer of it, and even after meeting Henry, she does whatever she can to help him out, even if that means using a scheme to get his camera back from Matt. 

I also admired her strength in a way. Because when she finally had enough, she makes a clear break from Matt, choosing herself for once.

And in my opinion, that is when the real story starts…
Yes, it’s important to know her background, and how she meets Henry, but when she finally moves out of her place and stays with her sister and her partner, the real Jenna appears. 

The more I read about Jenna, the more I liked her. She is a kind person, offering helping hands wherever she can. She is also funny, as she shows with her colleagues. But she is also righteous. Even if there is one colleague that pushes her buttons, she still handles his expenses according the rules of the firm and when the truth comes out, even then she shows her kind heart, no matter how easy it would have been to get some ‘revenge’. 

To be truly honest, the bit that truly stole my heart, was the guinea pig rescue. I never heard of such a rescue before, but seeing the efforts and love was put in helping those poor animals and the efforts to keep the rescue, warmed my heart. And even if I am not a fan of the candy – type, Snickers stole my heart! 

And seeing how she and Henry are growing closer, was just wonderful to read about. Add that Jenna also has a physical disadvantage yet Henry sees the Power Woman she truly is, made me even believe more in finding Prince Charming! 

Yes, Henry made me furious at one specific point in the story, but seeing how he cares about Jenna and seeing how his heart gets stolen by the guinea pigs, made me still believe in the good in him. 

This was a wonderful story to read, about how hardships in our lives have twisted our vision of love, and can even make someone fear to love.
There are so many topics handled in this book, but all handled in a subtle, nice way without ever getting too judgy or teachy.
While reading, I understood perfectly what this author tried to tell us, and while the messages were important, it never made the smile disappear of my face.

Well, this cover surely has my interest, I NEED to read the book asap!!!

Synopsis

‘Gorgeous, glorious and uplifting. A delight to read.’ (Christie Barlow)

List-juggling, business-owner mum-of-three Louisa is reeling after a tragedy, as well as learning how to cope after a life-changing revelation. With oil worker husband Ronnie possibly being able to move onshore, she hopes he can help her manage the burden.
But the secrets she keeps are causing her headaches and she’s unsure if her ability to make good decisions has deserted her. All she seems to do is upset those around her.
With Louisa’s to-do list gathering pace at an incredible speed, will she manage to provide a stable home for them all, embrace her new normal as well as rebuild their life from what’s left?
And if she gets what she has always wanted, will it match up to her expectations?

For fans of Milly Johnson, Sarah Morgan and Heidi Swain.

Pre-order link – https://books2read.com/u/3yKNa6

Publication Date – 26th July

About the author

Susan Buchanan lives in Scotland with her husband, their two young children and a crazy Labrador called Benji. She has been reading since the age of four and had to get an adult library pass early as she had read the entire children’s section by the age of ten. 

Susan writes contemporary fiction, often set in Scotland, usually featuring travel, food or Christmas. When not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, Susan loves reading (obviously), the theatre, quiz shows and eating out – not necessarily in that order!

THE COVER!!!