After being ditched at the altar, Emmy Shaw’s heart, like her dented food truck, is definitely not open for business. Deeply in debt to her parents and evicted from her apartment, she takes a friend’s drunken dare and fills out an application for a new dating-adventure reality show. She never expects to be chosen—or to get a chance at the show’s huge cash prize, which could put her life back on track.
But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing suit and a backpack, she questions if being on the show might be even worse than the #emmytrashtruck hate brigade she left back home. Then she meets her fellow cast members—including sexy, inscrutable Wes—and starts to reconsider, wondering if maybe money’s not all she stands to gain from this experience.
After a year of abysmal failures, this summer of cave treks, jungle hikes, impromptu talent shows, and a sexy flirtmance turns out to be just the thing to help Emmy rebuild her shattered confidence. She signed up for the show to hide from the mess her life had become, but this escape from reality might be just what she needs to find herself.
Three kids, one dog, one lovely but sometimes oblivious husband. Tick, tick tick.
She is even managing to hold her own among the competitive school mums – if you don’t look too closely. But when she finds herself also caring for her elderly mother, diagnosed with dementia, the household is thrown into disarray and Penny finds herself stretched to breaking point trying to meet everyone’s needs.
Can she make the new family situation work? And is there any chance of finding some space in it all for herself?
Penny, the protagonist, is a relatable figure for many middle-aged women who juggle multiple responsibilities, including caring for aging parents. The book deftly blends comedy and pathos, capturing the struggles and joys of being part of the “sandwich generation.” As Penny cares for her mother, who has dementia, and juggles her other responsibilities, readers experience moments of laughter and tears. The story offers a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by caregivers while also delivering messages of hope, humor, and the importance of self-care. It sheds light on the realities of dementia caregiving while emphasizing the need for support and acknowledgment of one’s own limitations. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book is uplifting and leaves readers feeling seen and understood.
The BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud fake relationship romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh! Cara and Millsy have broken up… sort of.
After years of being everyone’s favourite couple, always up for a party and having fun wherever they go, things have fizzled out.
But when they realise they have a whole calendar of events and celebrations with friends and family coming up, Cara and Millsy can’t face letting them down.
So they decide to make a pact: just convince everyone they’re as madly in love as ever and get through the festivities without causing suspicion, and then deal with the break up in the new year. How hard can it be…?
Swept up in the festive spirit, will Cara and Millsy fake it til they make it? Or will they realise they are meant to be after all…?
Cara and Millsy decide to pretend to be together during a holiday trip to Scotland to avoid upsetting their families after breaking up due to long-distance challenges. As they fake their relationship, Cara realizes she still loves Millsy, but he seems to have moved on. Classic miscommunication ensues, causing tension and jealousy. Portia MacIntosh’s “The Faking Game” is a captivating fake-dating romcom that explores the dynamics of relationships during the festive season. Despite some love triangle elements, the book’s fast pace, intense mood, and sizzling romance make it an engaging read.
Four friends, one big secret… and the journey of a lifetime.
It’s nineteen years since they stopped speaking to each other, but now Morgan needs to contact her three best friends from school: Paige, Emily and Tiff.
Her teenage son wants to meet his dad and Morgan can’t ignore his requests any longer. And Paige, Emily and Tiff all knew what actually happened back then. Even if that was what led to their friendship group falling apart, they’re the only people Morgan can think of who might be able help her find the man who disappeared without a trace before she could tell him she was pregnant.
Can Morgan persuade her old friends to go on a road trip to track him down? As adults – with marriages, children and a whole bucket-load of their own problems – will they be able to work together to solve the mystery? And if so – just when forgiveness for the past looks like it might be possible – how will they cope with the biggest shock of all?
In their school days, Morgan, Paige, Emily, and Tiff formed a close-knit group called the Secret Gift Society, using their “superpowers” to stand up to bullies and help others. However, their friendship fractured on prom night due to a boy’s betrayal, leading to nineteen years of estrangement. Now, Morgan, a single mother, seeks their help as her son prepares for university and wants to know more about his father. Reuniting proves challenging as they confront their pasts, secrets, and unresolved issues. As their individual stories unfold, the complexity of their characters, unexpected twists, and emotional depth captivate readers, making this book impossible to forget.
Frances Mathews doesn’t get out much since her husband died, but that doesn’t stop her from jump-starting a campaign to create a hedgehog highway in Hilltop Place—feeding stations, holes at the bottoms of gates and fences, and wild garden areas for hibernation. To Frances’s delight, her neighbours are on board. Mostly.
There are Jess and Michael, whose marriage is cracking under the unanticipated strain of a recent adoption. And Ryan, a wounded war reporter struggling to connect with his son after a divorce and forced to return to an exasperating parental fold. Plus, a very forthright single mum new to the neighbourhood and an exceedingly proper couple not about to upend their picture-perfect garden for prickly nuisances.
As relationships—from the romantic to the nerve-racking—form and secrets are unearthed, Hilltop Place is threatened in ways that affect them all…unaware hedgehogs included. What Frances and her charitable neighbours soon discover about themselves and each other is hardly what any of them expected.
All’s Fair In Love and War By Virginia Heath
When former naval captain, Harry Kincaid, is left in the lurch with his flighty older sister’s three unruly children, he hasn’t a clue how to handle it. Desperate, and prepared to pay whatever it takes, he turns to Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies for an emergency governess who can get his formerly ordered house running shipshape again.
After a strict and miserable upbringing, fledgling governess Georgie Rowe doesn’t believe that children should be seen and not heard. She believes that childhood should be filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery (. . . everything hers wasn’t). Thankfully, the three Pendleton children are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional approach. However, their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, is another matter entirely.
Georgie and Harry are soon butting heads over their differences, but as time passes, their attraction soon becomes undeniable and, after all, all’s fair in love and war . . .
My Heart Still Beats By Helen Hardt
Some days I can almost see the person I used to be. See the version of myself that felt joy, even passion. But she’s gone…just out of reach.
Life moves on for everyone else, though, and as my best friend’s maid-of-honor, I have a bachelorette party to plan—in Jamaica, no less. And that means working side by side with the best man: Benjamin Black.
Billionaire. Workaholic. Ultimate bachelor. The perfect catch for any woman—unless she’s lost her sense of self.
Apparently my body hasn’t gotten the memo. Because from the second we meet, something begins stirring, warming my blood.
And when our hands touch, it’s a heady reminder that even if I feel numb, my heart still beats.
He’s nothing like I thought. Every moment with him unshackles a little more of my fears, cracks another layer of ice.
But I should be afraid—and so should he. Because the past never lets go so easily.
Life has gone a little bit downhill for Naomi Winters…
Ever since her ex-husband Ollie filed for a divorce last Christmas, Naomi is a self-confessed scrooge. She hates her job, has exactly zero hobbies, and on top of that she’s all alone this holiday season.
Spurred on by her best-friend Mia – who has invited her to spend Christmas at her snow-kissed Chateau in the Swiss Alps – she decides it’s time for change.
But, when she arrives, she’s shocked to see Mia’s big brother Gabriel. It’s been fifteen years since they last saw eachother, forcing her to face memories she’d rather forget.
As Naomi grapples with getting her life back on track, she throws herself into various festive activities, and she can’t seem to escape Gabriel this time…
Will he manage to thaw her icy heart, or is she on a downward slope to disappointment?
Naomi Winters is going through a bitter divorce and spends the holidays with her best friend Mia at her chateau in Switzerland. There, she reunites with Mia’s brother Gabriel, with whom she shares a mysterious past. Amidst hilarious skiing adventures and visits to the Christmas Market, Naomi confronts her insecurities stemming from her adoption and materialistic upbringing. Through helping Mia with the community Christmas gala, Naomi discovers what truly matters in life and finds the courage to pursue her own happiness. This heartwarming story explores themes of love, friendship, self-discovery, and the magic of the holiday season against the backdrop of a picturesque Swiss town.
For years, Gemma has been running her late mother’s café with devotion, and when an opportunity comes to buy out her next-door neighbour and expand, she jumps at the chance.
She knows she will do her mother proud – keep her legacy going strong – but deep down she knows there’s still something missing.
But sometimes family are those you choose, or those who choose you! With a growing community of supporters cheering Gemma on, will she really spend the rest of her life alone?
And with some new faces at her blossoming bistro, perhaps romance may also be on the cards?
In this delightful sequel to the first book in the series, Gemma, who runs a seafront café, takes center stage. With support from her sister Lucy and friends Meredith and Clem, Gemma embarks on expanding her café, all while grappling with memories of happier times with her mother. The story is rich with well-developed characters and heartwarming relationships, including a lovely romance and the endearing bond between Gemma and a troubled teenager named Occy. Gemma’s relatable struggles and the perfect balance of heartbreak and warmth make for an emotionally engaging read. With twists, surprises, and plenty of laughter, this book is beautifully written and leaves readers eagerly anticipating more adventures in Driftwood Bay.
When Luna Rowntree gets an unexpected and life-changing legacy from a man she’s never met, she’s determined to find out why – even if it is Christmas Day and her family are expecting her.
So, with only her mother’s ashes for company – it’s a long story, but Luna knows her mother would have wanted to come on the adventure too – Luna sets off in her trusty Astra to the skiing resort in Chamonix, where her mysterious benefactor had lived.
But her little car isn’t designed for driving through snow-covered mountains, and when she runs out of fuel heart-breakingly close to Chamonix, Luna is relieved to be saved by her very own knight-in-shining armour. Well, knight in mountain rescue uniform anyway.
Yannick is charmed if baffled by Luna’s mission, and before he knows it, he has agreed to help. But Yannick has his own secrets calling him from the mountains, and his own reasons to run away. As he helps Luna understand her past he realises he has to face his as well if he’s ever going to risk opening his heart to love.
This book is not your typical Christmas read despite its snowy cover and mention of the holiday. Instead, it’s a captivating tale of Luna’s quest to uncover the source of an unexpected insurance payment. Abandoning her family’s Christmas plans, Luna embarks on a journey to Chamonix with her mother’s ashes in tow and a dodgy fuel gauge in her car. Along the way, she finds friendship, romance, and surprising revelations about her mother’s past. Leonie Mack’s storytelling shines in this novel, with realistic characters, vivid descriptions of the mountain setting, and an emotional depth that keeps readers engaged. From the challenges faced by the mountain rescue team to Luna’s own personal journey of bravery and determination, “Luna’s Windfall” is an exceptional read that will leave you thoroughly captivated.
Phoebe and Suze used to be closer than sisters. Growing up in a quiet and wildly beautiful coastal town in Oregon, they shared everything. Until the secrets they couldn’t share threatened their bond and complicated their lives.
Now, decades later, Suze, a famous actress desperate for safe haven following a brutal attack, is back in town. Phoebe, a successful illustrator and fabric designer, has discovered keeping a secret means she can’t let anyone get close, aside from her beloved granddaughter, Jasmine. As Jasmine’s move to London looms, Phoebe doesn’t know how to face the return of her old friend and all that’s still unsaid between them. Can the two women who’ve never confronted their past do it now when the choice is between healing and survival?
The story revolves around the deep bond between Phoebe and Suze, who met as children and formed a strong friendship that endured through the years despite challenges. Told from two perspectives and timelines, the narrative explores the complexities of female friendships, including bliss, betrayal, and heartbreak. As adults, Phoebe and Suze must confront past hurts and learn to trust each other again if they want to salvage their relationship. The story delves into themes of forgiveness, resilience, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences on adult relationships.
A Wonderland Wish On Ever After Street By Jaimie Admans
A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…
There’s always time for tea… unless you’ve lost your teapot…
Cleo Jordan has only ever wished for one thing – to open her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran. So when she accidentally fools the interview board into thinking she’s a brilliant baker and is offered a prime spot on Ever After Street, she knows her dream is about to come true!
Stepping into The Wonderland Teapot is like falling down the rabbit hole – magical! But there’s a catch: Cleo has completely lost her love of baking! With her little white lie ticking in her ear, it seems her dream is over before it’s begun.
Until she meets her very own Mad Hatter. Loved by everyone on Ever After Street, magician Bram brings an energy to the teashop that lifts everyone, and slowly, with his encouragement, Cleo is getting back to doing what she loves best.
But with Bram hiding secrets of his own, Cleo isn’t sure she can put all her faith in him. And when things start going wrong at the teashop, Cleo wonders if the culprit sabotaging her dream is someone closer than she thinks?
If Cleo wants her wish to work, she has to learn to trust again before she loses her head and heart completely…although it might already be far too late for that..
A Helping Hand For The Village Nurse By Tilly Tennant
Among the emerald hills of the Lake District sits the village of Thimblebury and Wordsworth Cottage, its garden bursting with wildflowers. It is the perfect place for village nurse Ottilie to make her brave new start…
Ottilie Oakcroft never thought she’d live in a place like Wordsworth Cottage. Nestled close to the river, her new home in the tiny village of Thimblebury means all her patients are just a stone’s throw from her front door. As they drop in for cups of tea and cosy chats she ignores all the jobs on her to-do list and gets to know her new neighbours.
Yet maybe keeping busy is just what Ottilie needs, even if she’s barely had a minute to unpack her suitcase. Heartbroken after the death of her husband Josh, as she offers advice and hot soup from her kitchen to the villagers who clearly need a helping hand, she starts to feel part of a community again.
But disaster strikes when a terrible storm causes the river to burst its banks and flood Ottilie’s ramshackle cottage. She has sunk every penny she has into what she’d hoped would be her forever home, and now she’s faced with the prospect of losing it.
But the villagers have other ideas. They can’t bear to lose Ottilie and they make a plan to save her house. Leading the effort is handsome Heath, and as he rolls up his sleeves to get involved in the repairs, he and Ottilie start to open up to each other. Ottilie tells him about her loss, and he shares the pain of a marriage that ended in heartbreak for him.
Ottilie hasn’t talked to anyone like this since Josh’s death and while it scares her, a tiny grain of hope begins to grow. Could Heath be the man to make her feel life is worth living again – not just for her patients, but for herself?
My Sanctuary 