Daily Archives: January 10, 2026

Review Card & Book Review- The Hollywood Runaway By Alexandra Weston

Liverpool, September 1932.

Miner’s daughter Olivia Swift believed her future was clear-cut: a steady husband, a home, and a family of her own one day. But when a shocking secret shatters her wedding plans, Olivia makes a desperate, irreversible choice. With a one-way ticket to America, she abandons everything familiar for a terrifying unknown.

Far from England and her family, Olivia is adrift in a strange new world, the promise of excitement overshadowed by a growing dread. Can this runaway forge a new life from the ashes of her old one, or will her American dream remain just out of reach?

A reckless journey of escape…or a chance to start living again?

About The Author

My Review

Olivia Swift, is a miner’s daughter with a rare singing talent and dreams of a brighter future. Swept up by the promises of a businessman who isn’t what he seems, Olivia’s world is shattered when a devastating truth forces her into a life-changing decision. Her escape from England to America sets the stage for an inspiring journey of resilience and rediscovery.

Weston paints Olivia as a deeply relatable character—her fear, strength, and passion leap from the page. Her stage performances are vividly described, making it easy to imagine her voice captivating audiences. The shipboard setting allows room for meaningful friendships and tender encouragement from new acquaintances, especially one man who stirs the possibility of love again.

What makes this novella especially compelling is its balance of hardship and hope. Through flashbacks, we glimpse Olivia’s painful past, while her present voyage reveals the courage it takes to forgive herself and embrace a new life. By the end, she emerges as a triumphant woman, ready to pursue her dreams in Hollywood.

Set in the 1930s, The Hollywood Runaway blends emotional depth with historical charm. It’s a heartfelt, uplifting story about healing, friendship, and chasing dreams. A must-read for fans of historical fiction and empowering heroines.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

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Review Card & Book Review- Paper Heart By Cecelia Ahern

Pip’s world is small. But it’s about to become a whole lot bigger.

For years she’s tucked away her dreams, shrinking herself into the space left behind – like the delicate origami she creates alone in her room.

Then hope comes from an unlikely place: an astronomer from the local observatory. He teaches her to look up at the stars, and to see a world far bigger and more beautiful than she ever imagined.

And perhaps in that big, beautiful universe there’s someone waiting for her. If she can find the courage to open her heart.

Pip never stopped dreaming, but now it’s time for her to live – and maybe even to fall in love.

About The Author

My Review

Pip, now thirty-two, still lives at home with her parents and daughter Bella after falling pregnant at sixteen. Her youthful dreams with first love Jamie were crushed when their parents forced them apart, leaving Pip under her mother’s controlling shadow. Art has always been her passion, but it survives only in secret—through delicate origami figures and poems she hides away. Everything begins to change when Pip meets Io, a scientist whose quiet encouragement opens her eyes to the vastness of the universe and the possibilities of her own life. Slowly, Pip begins questioning the limitations placed on her and rediscovers her own voice and strength. The contrast between Pip’s tiny folded paper creations and the infinite night sky is both symbolic and poignant, reflecting her journey from containment to expansion.

The novel doesn’t shy away from showing the messy realities of family control, lost opportunities, and the aching regret of unfulfilled dreams. Yet, it balances this with hope, charm, and a subtle romance that feels secondary to the true love story—the one between Pip and herself. 

Paper Heart is a tender and thought-provoking novel about second chances and the courage to reclaim your life. It is moving, hopeful, and quietly inspiring—an uplifting story of transformation and self-discovery.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon