Monthly Archives: March 2025

Review Card & Book Review- The Grown-Up To Do List By Jennifer Joyce

Her friends are bossing life – is she being left behind?

25-year-old Cleo is happy enough. She likes her job in the fish and chip shop in the North West seaside town where she grew up. But her world has become very small – all her friends couldn’t wait to leave home and are off, apparently crushing life. They have shiny careers and creative side-hustles, while she is still living with her mum and dad.

But when she learns that her dream childhood boyfriend is coming back to town for a party in three months, she decides she needs to start adulting to win him.

But what does being a grown-up really mean? And can she become one in three months?

About The Author

My Review

This book follows Cleo, a 25-year-old who feels stuck in her small coastal town life, still living with her parents and working at a fish and chip shop. When she reconnects with an old high school friend, Cleo is inspired to change and creates a “To-Do List” to become a more responsible and independent adult.Though initially immature and frustrated with her situation, Cleo’s journey of self-improvement and growth makes her increasingly likable. The story is filled with humor, charm, and relatable moments of personal development. This fast-paced rom-com, with its short chapters and engaging style, is perfect for fans of chick lit and contemporary romance, offering a delightful mix of laughs and heartfelt moments.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 9 March 2025

Here Comes Trouble By Christy McKellen

Sometimes it’s fun to kiss and tell!

Sensible journalist Jess is not a rule breaker, especially where her career is involved. But trying to extract a tell-all interview from notorious artist and bad boy Xander Heaton is going to test her patience… and self-control. Because she must, at all costs remain professional, respectable and stay focused on the job at hand.

But it’s not long before Jess realizes that Xander spells trouble with a capital T and is living up to his tempting reputation! Trying to keep her distance, Jess decides that maybe she could break her golden rule, just this once to get Xander out of her system and her job back on track. But one night is never enough! And she learns that actually breaking her rules once in a while can lead to more fun than sticking to them!

Review Card & Book Review- The Start Of The Story By Jane Lovering

Rowan Thorpe can be forgiven for living with one foot in the past.

Since having to say goodbye far too young to the future she had planned, moving on still feels a daunting task. So, when historian Connor O’Keefe strides purposefully into her office and life, looking far too handsome for his own good and threatening to undermine the local legends she holds close to her heart, she is more than a little unsettled.

Connor has a past too, and his own reasons to keep his heart under wraps. But when a combination of fate and an unexpected snowstorm mean that Rowan and Connor have all the time in the world to swap stories, it may finally be time for an end and a new beginning.

About The Author

My Review

Rowan, an English folklorist grieving her husband’s death, avoids new relationships by focusing solely on work. Her life changes when Connor, a historian with his own past hurts, arrives to research a folkloric site, challenging Rowan’s comfort zone. When a snowstorm traps them together in a cottage, they share stories and slowly begin to heal.

Jane Lovering’s novel masterfully balances humor with the deep themes of grief and healing. Rowan’s complexity and Connor’s gentle patience create a touching dynamic as they help each other move forward. The story’s dual timeframes add mystery, while the slow-building romance is both sweet and heartfelt. This is a beautifully written tale of loss, remembrance, and new beginnings.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Coming Home To Starr’s Fall By Kate Hewitt

The leaves are falling, with a crispness to the air, along with the scents of coffee and pumpkin spice, past a half-empty street of shuttered storefronts and a bandstand that has seen better days…

Just like the whole town of Starr’s Fall, thinks Laurie Ellis – as she and her beloved dog Max head to collect the store keys. Maybe she has seen better days, too, but she’s certainly ready for a new start—and to leave her past behind. Still Laurie wonders whether she made a terrible mistake in coming to lovable but shabby Starr’s Fall. Will she even find customers for her pet store and bakery, never mind a community to welcome and accept her?

Not according to Joshua Reilly, the handsome but grumpy manager of the bookstore across the road, who claims he’s never heard of anything so ridiculous as a bakery for dogs.

But Laurie remains stubbornly undeterred. She’s starting over, right here. Not least because she has another secret reason for being here… one she isn’t telling anybody, at least not yet, as it involves her own tragic past.

What she doesn’t yet know is that a clue to the mystery is hidden deep in Joshua’s bookstore. And he doesn’t yet realize that Laurie herself might be the key to mending his own battered heart… for Laurie and Joshua and the whole town, it’s going to be a fall to remember.

About The Author

My Review

Laurie Ellis moves to Starr’s Fall, Connecticut, to open a pet shop and search for the family she has never known. Despite her challenging past, Laurie remains optimistic and determined to find a true sense of belonging. The novel captures the cozy, autumnal charm of the small town and follows Laurie as she builds new friendships and explores a possible romance with a local bookstore owner.

Beyond its feel-good romance, the story also delves into deeper themes such as grief, parental loss, and the struggles of growing up in foster care. It is a heartwarming read for fans of clean romances centered around community and connection.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – A New Arrival At Duck Pond Cottage By Della Galton

It’s not just animals who need to be rescued…

Following the unexpected death of her mother, and the breakdown of her relationship, animal loving idealist Jade Foster, uses her inheritance to buy a smallholding in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside hoping to realise her dream of providing a sanctuary for unloved animals in need of a new home.

Jade employs the enigmatic Finn McTaggart to help out at Duck Pond Lane Rescue and forms a friendship with both Finn and her local Vet, Aiden Southerland. But Finn is running from his own demons and Aiden longs for a more romantic relationship with broken-hearted Jade.

Romance is not on the cards for Jade, but as both men fall for her natural beauty, the rivalry between them hots up. But can any of them heal enough to find lasting love?

What none of them realise is that a devastating secret from the past has the power to destroy the present and that love, however wonderful, isn’t always enough.

About The Author

My Review

After her estranged mother’s death, Jade Foster opens Duck Pond Rescue, an animal sanctuary, while struggling with feelings of worthlessness. Finn, an artist posing as a handyman, arrives to help with renovations, while Aiden, the local vet, believes Finn isn’t good enough for Jade. As they navigate a tangled story filled with sweet, fun moments, connections to Puddleduck Farm and a few challenges add humor and depth. The book offers a charming read, with engaging characters and anticipation for the next installment in the series.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Happy Publication Day – 6 March 2025

In The Market For Love By Shanna Hatfield

He’s never opened his heart to anyone. She wears her emotions on her sleeve. When romance blooms, will they realize love is what they both need?

Ransom Kressley possesses the gift of gab, striking good looks, and a blistering disdain for his family’s Idaho ranch where he resides with his father and identical twin brother. His genuine passion is football, but a knee injury shattered his dreams of an NFL career. After years of channeling his frustration and anger toward those who care about him most, Ransom resolves to change. He accepts a job in Portland as a promotions manager for an arena football team and eagerly steps into his new life. As he makes a fresh start, his past continues to plague him, interfering with his chance to get to know the woman who lingers in his thoughts.

Despite her sunny smile and tender spirit, Kelly Truman isn’t in the market for love or even a relationship when she agrees to have lunch with her best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. Familiar only with Ransom Kressley’s notorious reputation, Kelly is determined to keep her guard up around him. However, Ransom proves to be nothing like she expected. Soon, she realizes she cherishes time spent with the man, but fears trusting him with her heart.

When their friendship evolves into something more, will Ransom’s charm and silver tongue split them apart or bind them together?

Review Card & Book Review- A French Country Escape By Jennifer Bohnet

A fresh start in the beautiful Brittany countryside is what dreams are made of…

Buying and relocating to the Château du Cheval in rural France has fulfilled one of Peter and Ingrid Chevalier’s lifelong ambitions. Despite never being able to trace a missing link in Peter’s French ancestry he feels he has finally come home. Now they must renovate the Château to its former glory and make it pay for itself…
With money getting tight, they take the decision to sell a couple of cottages on the estate. Can the Château begin to pay for itself and be sustainable for the future?

Divorced Sasha Heath and her brother Freddie decide to sensibly invest their mother’s inheritance into property and buy the two rundown cottages on the Château’s estate. Putting the past behind them, a new life in France beckons, but will it live up to their dreams?

As they relax and settle into their new idyllic lifestyle, their new lives throw up several surprises, and all they can do is cross their fingers and hope everything will turn out well in the end.

About The Author

My Review

Peter and Ingrid Chevalier buy the Château du Cheval in rural France, fulfilling a lifelong dream but needing funds for extensive renovations. They decide to sell two cottages on the property, which are purchased by newly divorced Sasha Heath and her brother Freddie, who are looking for a fresh start. The four become friends, and Sasha and Freddie help Peter and Ingrid prepare the château for guests, leading to personal growth and self-discovery for everyone involved. Set against a picturesque French countryside, the story explores themes of second chances, taking risks, and finding happiness. It’s a cozy, heartwarming read with a multigenerational cast, offering friendship, light romance, and a feel-good narrative.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Beneath The Lemon Trees By Emma Burstall

A magical villa. A life-changing summer…

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?

About The Author

My Review

In this book, Stella, recently separated from her husband and grieving the loss of her best friend to cancer, decides to take a two-week vacation with her children, her second-best friend, and her friend’s children. The vacation, which should be an escape to paradise, is overshadowed by Stella’s indecisiveness, inability to say no, and her tendency to be whiny and weak. Her poor decision-making brings an unwelcome houseguest, disrupting the trip further.

While the story offers an appealing escape vibe with vivid descriptions of scenery and village life, the plot is disjointed and lacks focus. The main character, Stella, is frustratingly fragile and inconsiderate, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. There is also a missed opportunity to explore the villa’s “magic,” which could have added depth to the story. Overall, the book is an okay read with potential that wasn’t fully realized.

My Rating

Link To Purchase