Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.
Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision.
But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more. Can she open herself up to the possibility of love and find the strength to start again?
When your old life ceases to exist, it’s time to build a new one…
It’s early summer on the French Riviera when Vivienne Wilson arrives for a one-woman writers’ retreat after her philandering husband informs her that their 30-year marriage is over.
There to collect the shell-shocked Vivienne is recently widowed Maxine Zonszain, who is struggling to come to terms with her empty life following the sudden death of her husband.
Florist extraordinaire, Olivia Murray, shares the Villa that Vivienne is renting. She’s pretty content with life – but longs to meet ‘The One’.
Life under the summer sun in Antibes becomes a challenging time for all three women. Secrets are shared, problems are halved as they forge new and unexpected friendships and embark on new adventures.
Sometimes life’s surprises turn out to be unwanted but just sometimes the ‘new normal’ makes for a happier life than the one lost.
Vivienne, a successful author, heads to the Riviera for solitude to finish her book, only to be blindsided by her husband’s announcement of ending their marriage for someone else. In Antibes, she finds solace in newfound friendships with Maxine, recently widowed, and Olivia, the florist downstairs. As Vivienne stands up to her husband’s demands, the story explores her emotional journey alongside her friends’ personal challenges. Set against the backdrop of the Riviera, the novel offers armchair travel with vibrant descriptions of the region’s allure. With themes of fresh starts and resilience, this beautifully written tale, complete with real characters and a satisfying conclusion, is a delightful summer read recommendation.
When Olivia’s beloved Aunt Grace passes, she leaves everything to her niece, with one condition: Travel to Prague and deliver a message to Grace’s long-lost true love, Marek.
The trouble is, Olivia’s world is getting smaller. Since her husband left her one heartbreaking Christmas Eve, she has found even getting into town a challenge, let alone travelling by herself to a different country.
But this is one adventure she has to take, if she is to honour Grace.
The snowy, magical city of Prague slowly starts to awaken her festive spirit, and as Marek’s nephew, Tomas, shows her around the gorgeous Christmas markets, Olivia begins to feel she can truly live again.
Grace never had her chance at love, but might Olivia’s secret Christmas wish come true and grant her a second chance at romance?
Look What You Made Me Do By Amy Andrews
A disgraced football star, a high school in need of saving and a reunion too hot to handle.
Headteacher Ella Lucas and football star Jake Prince have a very complicated history! Their mind-blowing encounter two years ago is proving impossible to forget now Jake has reappeared in Ella’s life after being booted out of the NFL.
She knew he was trouble back then but Ella has enough on her plate right now to worry about Jake and his shenanigans. Except, her school’s on the brink of closure, and it appears he’s the one person who can actually help. All he has to do is coach the underdog football team to a winning streak and maybe Ella can help Jake restore his tarnished reputation in the process. With nothing to lose, Jake reluctantly agrees.
As the school season heats up so does their inevitable chemistry. Far from being stuck in the past, the sparks between them are burning hot. And although he may look like her next mistake, Ella is determined that she will keep her hands off the anti-hero even if he does still have the best tight end on the plan
It’s Getting Hot In Here By Jane Costello
HER HOT FLUSHES MUST BE THE PERI-MENOPAUSE. THEY SURELY COULDN’T BE… LOVE?
Lisa Darling – high-flying TV-exec and twice-divorced mother-of-two – has enough on her plate without having to deal with the handsome New Yorker parachuted in to her best friend’s job at work.
She’s already navigating life with a grotty teenage son, organising a PTA cheese and wine event, supporting her oldest friend through breast cancer treatment and, since she hit 47, facing a new perimenopause symptom every day. It’s no wonder she never has time for Pilates or that DIY panelling she keeps seeing on Instagram (though she’d be the first to admit she’d rather share a bottle of wine with her friends any day).
So when Lisa starts feeling overheated every time she clashes with Zach Russo, she convinces herself it will pass. Maybe her HRT just needs adjusting. Until, that is, she finds herself in a sexy – and seriously ill-advised – clinch with him. And then another…
All of which leads to one question: these long-forgotten feelings couldn’t be caused by something else entirely… could they?
Can a Greek escape be the start of something special?
Xanthe Fox has it all: a famous, drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend, a dream career and bright future – until heartbreak sends her life into a tailspin.
So when Xanthe’s Greek godmother unexpectedly leaves her a villa on the sumptuous island of Kefalonia, Xanthe jumps at the chance to put her life in London on hold and escape to the island hideaway to rethink her future.
The break allows Xanthe the time to explore her passions, sift through her feelings and discover more about her estranged Greek family while renovating her godmother’s enchanting Villa Aster.
But not everyone is happy to see her. Unfazed by her hostile neighbours and after making a mortifying mistake with a sexy builder, Xanthe is equally charmed by Kefalonia and a handsome, brooding gardener.
Chasing dreams, taking chances and saying ‘yes’ has the potential to turn Xanthe’s life upside down, but will a summer escape allow her to sparkle once more?
Xanthe, content with her life in London, inherits a villa in her mother’s Greek village after her godmother’s passing. Uncovering family secrets, she plans to visit, stirring unease in her mother Elina, who had left her past behind. As Xanthe delves into her heritage, unexpected twists and lively characters emerge, including her favorite, Jude. The narrative’s vibrancy immerses readers in Agatha’s villa and the Greek scenery, leaving them with a smile and perhaps a touch of life envy. The novel’s clever twist and vivid descriptions make it an amusing and absorbing read.
Two sworn enemies, snowed in over Christmas with chemistry that will melt the ice!
Nina Thompson has one Christmas wish: to avoid her brother’s obnoxiously handsome best friend, Tristan, like the plague. From the moment he humiliated her as a teenager to their escalating revenge schemes, Nina and Tristan’s relationship can only be defined as an all-out prank war! And there is yet to be a winner.
But it just so happens the ghost of Christmas present has other ideas. When Tristan unexpectedly crashes her family’s Christmas, Nina’s dreams of a peaceful holiday vanish faster than Santa up a chimney. Determined to end their rivalry for good, she braces herself for one last prank-filled showdown.
But when they find themselves snowed in, with no way of avoiding each other amongst the holiday festivities, they discover their heated exchanges have been masking a different kind of sizzle. Caught in a snow globe of holiday romance, they decide to let their fiery chemistry burn bright—but this is absolutely and unequivocally nothing more than a secret fling destined to melt with the snow, this is not a forever romance…
So when mum of two Beth moves out of her beloved marital home and into an unloved and unkempt cottage, she can’t help but feel demoralised. Faced with months of DIY and dust, her children Jacob and Olivia aren’t impressed either. But when Beth finds a box of letters while she’s clearing out the children’s room, things start to look up.
The correspondence is decades old, between agony aunt Evelyn and those in need of solace. Intrigued as to why the letters have been kept safe all these years, Beth can’t resist reading them, and as the wisdom and kindness of Evelyn falls off the pages, so Beth starts to feel she has a friend and champion in this woman she has never met.
Good advice doesn’t age, and as life starts to look brighter, Beth begins to wonder if she could track down Evelyn and thank her for her help. But as Beth uncovers more about Evelyn’s story, it becomes clear that everything is not as it seems. And now Beth is determined to bring peace to Evelyn as she has to her.
Stumbling upon a cache of letters from the former resident, an advice columnist, sparks Kate’s determination to infuse her new life with purpose. As she forges new connections and unravels the mystery of the previous owner’s disappearance, the plot unfolds with unexpected twists and compelling characters. The adept narrative structure, well-balanced romantic elements, and blend of poignant and lighthearted moments elevate it to a must-read status. I love how the author’s ability to capture raw emotions in a narrative where Kate, grappling with betrayal and solitude, transforms an abandoned house into a haven for herself and her children. Overall, it is a distinctive, immersive, and emotionally resonant novel.
Casey Hughes is a struggling travel journalist desperate for a big break when she lands the assignment of a lifetime: hop on board Aurelia for its maiden voyage through paradise. While she’ll bask in the luxury cruise ship’s fine dining and complimentary spa treatments, her real mission is to snag an exclusive interview with Phillip Woodmont.
Casey and the elusive shipping heir have history. Once, they were nothing short of brutal enemies. Though the former brace-faced teen is now a suited-up CEO with devastating good looks, he makes it clear to Casey that he has no interest in forgetting their past.
The volatile grudge between them is as explosive as ever. More than once Casey is tempted to toss Phillip overboard, but for her work, she’ll have to swallow her pride. If it’s an apology he’s after, she’ll serve it up on a silver platter. If he wants her to walk the plank, she’ll salute with an aye, aye, Captain.
Casey can’t let him provoke her. She needs this interview. So if Phillip wants to play dirty, Casey will just have to play dirtier.
The Best Is Yet To Come By Jessica Redland
Emma is having a fresh start.
After a successful teaching career, an exciting new chapter awaits Emma – helping her fiancé Grayson run one of Beatrix Potter’s farms. While imagining days spent supporting Grayson with his dream, working the land and helping with the animals, Emma harvests a dream of her own – to set up an alpaca-walking business around the farm.
But working together isn’t as easy as Emma expected. Soon her dreams are in tatters and, broken-hearted, she must start over yet again.
When Oliver, Rosie and the team at Willowdale Hall welcome Emma with open arms, she can’t believe her luck. But starting a new business in a new place is a daunting prospect, especially when it comes with unexpected obstacles. With a reserved, prickly groundskeeper as a partner, rapidly changing family dynamics to contend with, and time running out to get her new career off the ground, Emma may have bitten off more than she can chew.
But even though things are not going to plan just yet, the best is yet to come for Emma, if she can just take a leap of faith and follow her heart…
Finding a man is like buying a house: sometimes you have to look beyond the exterior to see the potential underneath.
As an estate agent, Alex’s job is to create happy-ever-afters. It’s just a shame she can’t work the same magic on her own life. Her long-term boyfriend Thomas still lives with his mother, and her hopes of them taking the next step are dashed when he announces he’s spending all his savings (savings she’d quite hoped he’d want to put towards their future home) on an ‘artist retreat’ in San Francisco.
With Thomas thousands of miles away, getting a little too friendly with his fellow artistes, Alex strikes up a friendship with her new neighbour, Callum. Taciturn, grumpy and nerdy, Callum couldn’t be more different to Alex’s bubbly personality…. So why is he the one she wakes up wanting to talk to?
As they get to know each other, Alex starts to wonder if the answer to all her problems might be closer to home than she thinks…
“The Fixer Upper” is a romantic comedy set in England, focusing on Alexandra Griffiths, a successful estate agent, and her interactions with her best friend Emma, her boyfriend Thomas, and her new neighbors Mark and Callum. As Emma and Mark start a relationship, Alex grows closer to Callum, transitioning from friends to lovers. The story unfolds with humor and entertaining interactions, with a focus on Alex’s professional life and personal challenges. The romance develops gradually, making it a delightful read for fans of gentle romance with comedic elements.
A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Franca Andrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, she needs a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open… But there’s one man standing in her way – expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.
Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth Raff continues to exploit. But this Christmas their shops are pitted against each other and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn’t know how her handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff’s snow globes, especially at the most magical time of the year!
As these two enemies get to know each other, Franca discovers another side to Raff – kind, caring and funny. But unless she can prove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together, she’s going to lose everything…
Keeping a family promise can be the beginning of a whole new life for everyone in town.
Taylor Gilford is more than happy to accept her grandmother’s gift of a cottage on the Lilac Lake Inn’s property to be shared with her two sisters, Dani and Whitney. The youngest, she’s always felt left out when the sisters got together. Living at Lilac Lake will give her a chance to know them better. More than that, it might help the “writer’s block” she’s been experiencing and help her recover from a stinging critique by her publisher’s new editor, Thompson C. Walker. After a few successful books in her fantasy series, Taylor can’t allow her career to end without fighting back. As she struggles, she learns a lot about herself and realizes that reading between the lines can bring a lot of happiness.
“Love Between the Lines” is the second book in The Lilac Lake Inn series, offering a seamless continuation of beloved characters’ lives. Taylor, the youngest sister, navigates her role as an author and her rocky relationship with her new editor, Cooper. The story intertwines multiple plotlines, including cottage renovations, renewed friendships, and small-town dynamics. Romance blooms amidst challenges, including the disruptive presence of JoEllen. While the story flows well and offers a satisfying happily ever after, some loose ends leave readers eager for the next installment. The title’s significance is woven throughout the narrative, and the captivating cover adds to the allure of the book.
My Sanctuary 