Category Archives: Book Review

Review Card & Book Review – My Heart is in Venice By Helga Jensen

Venice was where it all began…

Libby and Will spent a glorious honeymoon in this magical city. They didn’t have much money, but they had a whole lot of love and a bright future ahead of them.

And Venice was where it all went wrong…

Two kids and twenty-five years later, they are struggling with money problems but somehow Will manages to fulfil his promise to Libby to take her back to Venice for their anniversary. This time, they are doing it in style and a masked ball awaits. But among the beautiful buildings and romantic canals, Libby learns that her husband has a secret that breaks her heart.

The trust is broken and the marriage is over. But there are decades of love and two grown sons between them.

Can they ever find their way back to each other or have they missed their chance forever?

About The Author

My Review

Libby and Will struggle to keep their antique shop afloat in rainy Tenby, but a surprise online success allows them to revisit Venice for their twenty-fifth anniversary. However, tension arises when they can’t afford a masked ball Libby dreams of attending, leading to revelations of financial betrayal. The book beautifully captures the charm of Venice and the challenges of mature love, though some aspects of the characters’ reactions feel rushed. Despite this, the story offers a satisfying blend of light-hearted moments, emotional turmoil, and second-chance romance, making it a recommended read for older audiences.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – A Long Time Coming By Meghan Quinn

“Have you ever heard of a man-in-waiting?”

Yeah, not many have, Breaker Cane included. But his best friend, Lia Fairweather-Fern, can’t get married without some extra help. That’s why she’s recruited him to take on the snarling beast that’s her soon-to-be monster-in-law, Mrs. Beaver. For some reason, the groom’s mother seems to have never heard the phrase, “What the bride wants, the bride gets.” Lucky for Lia, Breaker has, and he accepts the challenge. After all, how much trouble can one woman cause?

The problem is, it isn’t Mrs. Beaver giving Breaker the most grief—it’s actually Lia. Because with every second her wedding draws closer, he’s starting to see her in a different light. She’s always been beautiful, but now, he finds himself staring a touch too long, his hand lingering for one more minute, and when she’s upset? Allowing her to sleep in his bed.

Before he knows it, it hits him like a ton of bricks: he’s fallen in love with his best friend.

Nothing is snapping him out of it. Not the girl he tries to date during the wedding planning. Not Lia’s increasingly suspicious fiancé. Not even the looming deadline of her upcoming nuptials.

Which means there’s only one thing left to do: prove to Lia he’s the one she should be with instead.

And it’s going to be a lot harder than he thinks.

About The Author

My Review

This book is an absolute delight, blending adorably sweet moments with hilarious humor and achingly romantic scenes. Lia and Breaker meet in college and become best friends, but it’s not until years later, amidst wedding planning and unexpected realizations, that Breaker realizes he’s in love with Lia. With Meghan Quinn’s signature wit and irresistible banter, the story unfolds into a wonderfully quirky and charming friends-to-lovers romance. Breaker and Lia’s journey is filled with laughter, tears, and swoons, making it an unforgettable and heartwarming read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Coffee and Cake at Wildflower Lock By Hannah Lynn

Home is where the coffee is…

Daisy May is embarking on a new chapter of her life as a permanent resident at the idyllic Wildflower Lock. Determined to seize this second chance she’s been granted, Daisy is putting her all into making her new business venture a success. As her friendship with Theo grows ever stronger, her happily ever after seems within reach.

However, life isn’t always smooth sailing. When a string of unfortunate mishaps and an unruly stag party leaves Daisy’s finances in dire straits, she starts to question her decision to launch a coffee shop. But just when she’s nearly lost hope, the mysterious and generous Christian enters her life. Astute and eager to assist Daisy, he proposes a solution that could be the answer to all her problems… or will it be the beginning of even more challenges.

About The Author

My Review

Daisy May transforms her inherited houseboat into a coffee shop with the help of her neighbor Theo, while battling her fear of love. When her shop faces financial troubles, a chance encounter leads her on a journey to promote her art and save her business. Set in a picturesque canal setting, ‘Coffee and Cake on the Wildflower Lock’ offers a charming romcom filled with sliding doors moments and sweet romance. While it can be enjoyed as a standalone, it leaves room for exploration of backstory and side characters in the series.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm By Alison Sherlock

She drives a tractor. He arrives in a red Ferrari. What could possibly go wrong?

Flora Barton is desperate to save her family home Strawberry Hill Farm. She only needs one thing – a great business idea to keep the farm afloat!

So, when Nico Rossi arrives from Italy with a crazy plan to save the farm, Flora should be overjoyed. The trouble is the Rossi men are infamous playboys and sensible Flora doesn’t trust impetuous Nico at all.

Nico has been trying to escape the famous Rossi surname his whole life. Arriving in sleepy Cranfield after recently losing his beloved grandfather and family vineyard, he has no intention of staying on any longer than necessary. But he soon realises how desperate the situation is and throws caution to the wind to help turn the farm into a Glamping site.

Can Flora realise her dreams to keep the farm safe for the future and can Nico ever stop running from his past?

As they try to save Strawberry Hill Farm, secrets are revealed and just maybe they’ll discover why opposites attract…

About The Author

My Review

Flora Barton, raised by her grandparents, faces the challenge of saving their deteriorating farm after her grandfather’s death. Feeling overwhelmed, she encounters Nico Rossi, an Italian playboy with a plan to rescue the farm. Initially wary, Flora eventually warms up to Nico’s charm, while her grandmother plays matchmaker. As their romance blossoms, they work together to revitalize the farm with the help of their supportive community. Despite uncertainties about Nico’s departure, their love story offers warmth and tenderness, making it a captivating read.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Just Do It By Maxine Morrey

Lizzie Rose knows what she likes and likes what she knows.

Her role at the London Museum is more than a job, it’s her safe place and her passion. So when Lizzie is passed over for a chance in a lifetime opportunity in favour of her ex-boyfriend and fellow Egypt nerd Friedrich Klein, her heartbreak over their relationship pales into insignificance compared to her sadness at losing the project.

Best friend Colette thinks an evening of cocktails is just the medicine for a broken heart, and meeting dashing, charming, but very much ‘not her type’ Finn Bryson at the bar puts a smile on Lizzie’s face too. But Lizzie isn’t used to spending time outside of her comfortable world of academia and doesn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. So when Finn’s job brings him to the museum, she’s determined to put an end to any notion of romance between them.

But what if Lizzie’s comfort zone isn’t that comfortable any more? Is it time for Lizzie to take the chance on love that fate keeps bringing her way – even if it means changing the habits of a lifetime?

About The Author

My Review

Lizzie Rose, an archeologist and museum curator, finds herself passed over for a lead position on an archaeological dig, given instead to her ex-fiance. However, a chance encounter with Finn, who ends up working alongside her at the museum, leads to unexpected sparks. As they navigate their differences and the challenges of their budding relationship, Lizzie experiences personal growth and learns to trust her instincts. With humorous and heartwarming moments, the story delves into the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – The Island Cottage By Jane Lovering

When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.

Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?

But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.

But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…

About The Author

My Review

Brid arrives in Orkney expecting to quickly sell her great aunt’s cottage, but finds it in disrepair and with unexpected occupants, including geese in the pantry. Despite her ties to York and her plans to sell, she begins to feel at home in the community and drawn to the enigmatic Magnus. As she navigates the challenges of selling the cottage and her growing feelings, Brid finds herself embraced by the warmth of Orkney and its magic. With endearing characters, engaging twists, and a touch of witchcraft, this heartfelt story captures the beauty of Orkney and the journey of finding home and love. A must-read for fans of charming romances and picturesque settings.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – Meadow Falls By Carolyn Brown

Angela Marie has spent all of her thirty-five years on Meadow Falls, the farm that’s been in her Texas family for generations. It wasn’t her plan. It was an obligation. Now that her parents—less loving kin than strangers—have passed, the whole shebang belongs to Angela. And a legacy she never wanted is hers to uphold.

She can’t forsake it now. Her beloved nanny, Mandy, who was always more of a mother, needs a caregiver herself. And Mandy’s great-granddaughter, as close to Angela as a sister, has returned to roost. When a handsome veteran arrives seeking work as a farmhand, Angela thinks the future might not be half-bad after all.

But it’s the past that proves enlightening. Mandy is revealing secrets Angela never knew about her parents. As the clouds on her family history begin to part, the inheritance feels more like a precious gift, and Meadow Falls more like the home Angela’s been looking for her whole life.

About The Author

My Review

“MEADOW FALLS” is a captivating contemporary tale by Carolyn Brown, drawing readers in from the start with its beautiful cover and engaging storytelling. The story follows Angela Marie, who has spent her life on a peanut farm without much love from her parents. As secrets unravel, Angela finds herself drawn to Devon, a new hired hand, while her friend Celeste navigates her own feelings for Jesse amidst a pending divorce. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers hooked until the end. Carolyn Brown’s heartfelt writing leaves readers with a smile and a happy heart, and the vivid characters feel like old friends. With its charming cast and compelling plot, “MEADOW FALLS” has the potential to captivate audiences on the big screen.

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review – The Cinderella Reversal By Anna Banks

Annabella Mason of the St Louis Masons is expected to marry the perfect guy—aka a straight up business deal to save her dad’s company, that is. Before signing away her freedom, she books a flight to Anywhere But Here and ends up at a bar called The Drowned Rat, chatting up a handsome stranger and calling for shots of tequila–this delightful drink she’s never had before. And delightful drinks you’ve never had before may or may not get you accidentally married to handsome strangers at bars.

Ian Jackson has no interest in playing the marriage game again. After his first wife ran off with the town butcher—the town butcher!—he lost all faith in true love and other maniacal myths. So when he suddenly wakes up married to a gorgeous stranger, he knows exactly what to do–call his judge friend and get the thing annulled. Only, His Honor is not so amused by the circumstances and requires that the two live together for 30 days before he’ll annul the marriage.

Can Annabella’s high society heels survive Ian’s small town grouchiness for 30 days—without actually falling for each other?

About The Author

My Review

“The Cinderella Reversal” is a heartwarming romcom about Annabella, engaged to a man for her father’s business, who ends up accidentally married to Ian, a lawyer in the small town she stumbles into. They navigate their predicament with humor and warmth, forming unexpected bonds. While the protagonist, Annabella, is relatable but not deeply connected with, the dynamics between characters, especially with Ian and his daughter Maggie, shine through. The story is filled with banter, learning curves, and genuine moments, making it an enjoyable read despite its familiar tropes.

My Rating

Review Card & Book Review – Can You Keep A Secret? By Jo Lovett

One secret could change everything…

One New Year’s Eve, Georgie James and her friends come up with a genius plan to help them stick to their resolutions… They all write down secrets, seal them in envelopes and then post them to each other. The secrets will be revealed at the end of the year if they haven’t kept their resolutions.

It’s perfect. Except…

Georgie’s secret is BIG… and revealing it could destroy their friendships. She has no idea why she chose that one to write down. There are plenty of innocent things she could have said – even admitting she finds newcomer Raf incredibly annoying would have been better.

What she does know is that there’s no way she can let her secret be revealed. Which means she needs to keep her (nightmare) resolutions and, most importantly, get her envelope back before anyone can open it. Which, given she sent her secret to Raf, means spending a lot more time with him than she’d choose to…

About The Author

My Review

“Can You Keep A Secret?” by Jo Lovett is a heartwarming romantic comedy that revolves around friendship, secrets, and the complexities of human relationships. Set against the backdrop of a unique New Year’s Eve tradition where friends exchange their deepest secrets, the protagonist, Georgie James, finds herself in a dilemma when she shares a secret that could jeopardize her friendships. As the story unfolds, Georgie grapples with regret and the desperate need to retrieve her secret before it’s too late. Lovett skillfully portrays relatable characters with flaws and endearing qualities, and the romance element adds an extra layer of charm. Despite its light-hearted premise, the novel delves into deeper themes such as body image, self-worth, and the quest for acceptance. With accessible writing, humor, and poignant moments, “Can You Keep A Secret?” is a refreshing addition to the romantic comedy genre, offering a comforting and hopeful narrative about friendship, growth, and unexpected love.

My Rating

Link To Purchase