Bella’s living her dream life, running a beautiful, rural French B&B and has finally put her past behind her. But when her husband suddenly asks for a divorce, everything changes.

Forced to abandon everything she’d built before, she finds herself moving to the beautiful town of Versailles, where she takes a job working in a hotel, and moves into a chaotic house share.

At first, it doesn’t feel like a problem that she can’t seem to convince her young housemates she’s older than them – it’s quite nice to pretend she’s in her 20s again. But when it becomes clear her new boss has also hired her under false pretences, she starts to wonder if she’s gone from living the dream to living a lie.

Despite the chaos though, she starts to feel that spark return. Even more so when handsome American landlord Brad arrives on the scene. But with so many secrets – now and in her past – how will Bella’s new start end?

My Thoughts:

Bella is living happily in France with her husband but then her world comes tumbling down when he throws a bombshell her way. Forced to give up her life and the time she had spent making her dreams come true, she stumbles upon hotel work, and a house share. The only downside is that she has not told the other house mates how old she really is and they are all young and single and complete opposites to her. But Bella feels as though half her life has been a lie and wasted so why not embrace her new life. But for how long? I liked the fact that the book was set in France as this is a place I have been too so can totally see the setting that Gillian has described. The first half was easy to get into but I feel the second half was not as good. It just felt a bit too much and a bit too long. But I did enjoy the first half.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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The human “oddities” in the Museum of the Strange are less wondrous than the gawking rubes had been promised. But Alida is something else. The real thing. Traveling Depression-era America from carnival midways to speakeasies, Alida is resigned to an exploited and lonely life on the road as the museum’s golden ticket. Until she’s rescued by two compassionate strangers.

Franklin and Loretta Fairchild see in Alida a gifted and uncannily well-read girl in need of a loving touch and a family. With the openhearted couple and their three precociously imaginative children, Alida finds it. Yet despite everyone’s overwhelming generosity and acceptance, Alida knows she is still a very different kind of girl. Her dreams bear that out. They’re vivid, unsettling, and threatening. Alida fears that they’re also warnings. And that it’s the Fairchilds who may need rescue from a bad, bad world.

Alida will do anything to help those she now holds nearest and dearest. Empowered with a purpose to vanquish evil, she will not fail her family.

My Thoughts:

When Franklin and Loretta meet Alida they know they need to do something for her. Alida gets to know the two well and grows up with their children but knows she is completely different from them becuase of her background. See Alida is different and was the star attraction for a museum of oddities that travelled the world. There is a lot going on for Alida and she does not understand everything and when something bad happens has she put this loving families lives at risk. I found it an odd and thought provoking read, it deals with sacrifices and being a family unit. There is spiritual love in the book too, it was a story that I wasn’t sure if I would like or not and I still not sure how I feel about it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Alison has spent years putting everyone else first. But now widowed, fed up with being taken for granted by her daughter and facing unexpected health worries, she realises she’s lost sight of the woman she used to be.

Then her cousin Rosie proposes a daring plan: move back to the coastal village where she grew up, for twelve weeks of ‘Project Alison’ – prioritising herself, for a change. Alison isn’t sure whether to laugh or cry! But the idea of going home to Kelsea Sands, back to the sea and the beautiful, wide Holderness skies, convinces her to take the plunge.

Soon she’s on a journey of rediscovery, hastened by the unexpected return of Mac – the boy she once knew, now a handsome man with a complicated past. But then come some shocking revelations. Does Alison have the courage to stand up for herself and finally seize the happiness she deserves?

My Thoughts:

Alison is a people pleaser, always doing things for others and forgetting about herself, she is down in the dumps and wants to revitalise herself. When her cousin persuades Alison to move back to her home town, Alison knows she needs to do this for herself, but when someone from the past shows up, she knows she needs to take the plunge and go for it. Can Alison find the way to happiness. This was a great read, I don’t think I have read any of Sharon’s books before, it was a story about self discovery and shows people reading it, if they feel the same to be more Alison. It showed the struggles Alison goes through but also the good parts too. It was a great read, that will touch anybody’s heart.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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When sisters Addie and Susanna receive invitations to a memorial for their Aunt Gayle, they’re heartbroken to learn the woman who raised them has passed away. But arriving on Anchor Island, they’re met with the shock of their lives: Gayle is alive and well, busily preparing her own ‘Celebration of Life’ at her beloved pudding bar, The Sweet Life Café.

Agreeing to stay for the event, the sisters begin sorting through their late father’s belongings, reopening wounds they thought long buried, and forcing them to reflect on their lives since leaving the island. Addie is struggling as a single mother, torn between love for her son and doubts about the life she can give him. Susanna’s marriage is crumbling, and being back on the island only reminds her why she couldn’t wait to escape.

But as Gayle prepares gooey brownies, steaming lattes and delicious cakes for her customers, and for her big event, she is hiding secrets of her own – including one that could change everything the sisters thought they knew about their family…

My Thoughts:

Aunt Gayle has a big secret and her nieces are invited to her memorial but one of the secrets is she is not dead. But the girls don’t know this and get a huge shock, but there is a reason Aunt Gayle wants them to all be together and it is a secret Aunt Gayle has kept. The sisters both have their own issues in their own lives and Aunt Gayle knows it’s best to share and share alike, but how will the sisters react when she tells them the truth. I found the story a long one and quite slow, I predicted what the secret was fairly early on and felt as though I was plodding through the book. The characters were ok but there was nothing special about this read especially set around a café.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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She married her high school sweetheart, stayed in her hometown and lives right next door to her mum Lisa and younger sister Sorrel. But with a new job on the horizon and her family no longer living a stone’s throw away, she’s going to have to get used to her comfortable life shifting into something new.

Jess finds the idea of being a part of the White House – the village’s new and stylish restaurant – incredibly daunting, but she knows she is more than capable. And with her role at the care home uncertain, this would give her the chance to finally pursue her passion for cooking.

But as her professional life soars, her romantic life is thrown into turmoil. Having welcomed back into her life her no-good ex, she’s quickly questioning her decision – especially as new faces in Beddingfield begin to catch her eye.

As the familiar rhythms of life shift and long-held routines are upended, she starts to see that sometimes change is no bad thing at all. And someone who encourages her to take a risk – even if it’s the last person she ever expected – might be just the thing she needed.

My Thoughts:

This story is about Jess and when she moves away from family and friends to go out in the big wide world alone will she be able to cope? a new job but a new and good challenge for her and it is something that she has wanted for a long time. Just as she is settling in to her life a blast from the past turns up and tries to shake things up for Jess, can she remain strong for herself or will she revert back to her old ways. It is all about taking that leap of faith and going with it. It was an easy story to read, this is book three but I read it as a standalone but I would suggest reading the other books first as with the other characters I felt I was missing out as I did not know them very well. It was a well written story but it was to me predictable.

I received an ARC copy of the book for an honest review.

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January 1945. As Auschwitz falls, Rachael Kisch joins the death march toward Dachau, freezing, starving, and clinging to one desperate hope: to find her brother Hannes. When she is forced to work in a Nazi print shop forging false identities for escaping officers, she risks her life again to sabotage their plans and save others.

Liberation brings new struggles. The war may be over, but returning home to the Netherlands means facing famine, loss, and a nation that has forgotten its Jews. Yet through grief and resilience, Rachael refuses to surrender her will to live or her determination to remember.

My Thoughts:

This is book 3 in the Rachael Kisch Trilogy and can be read as a standalone like I have but if you want more of Rachael’s story then I suggest reading the first two books first. It is set in 1945, it is all about the Death March where the Jews did not know where they were being led and what would happen to them. In such awful conditions it makes you appreciate what you have. I did feel very sad for them all and it was also sad to read the statistics that are covered at the end of this very powerful read. You just cannot ever imagine what these poor people went through. It is such an emotional and heavy read that I had to read it in chunks. It was a lot to take in. It follows Rachael and we see where her journey goes and I was really hoping as she is such a strong woman that she would survive. A good story with a powerful ending.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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In the crisp mountain air of central Oregon, a teenage girl’s search for discarded cans leads to a horrifying discovery: a body, brutally murdered and abandoned in the woods. The case falls to Deschutes County Detective Noelle Marshall, who finds herself navigating a community steeped in secrets, suspicion, and distrust of outsiders—especially law enforcement.

Miles away, FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes investigates a different kind of darkness—chatter about a violent uprising from a shadowy militia group preparing for war. The two cases seem worlds apart. But as Noelle digs into the murdered man’s past and Max closes in on the source of the terror plot, their paths begin to converge in a terrifying way. This was no random killing. It was a message. A merciless killer and a hidden army are operating in the same shadows, and finding the link between them is the only thing standing between a single murder and a full-blown massacre.

My Thoughts:

This is book two of four in the Noelle Marshall Series, this is the first book I have read in this series and can be read as a standalone but I would suggest reading book one first as I feel as though I missed out on quite a bit. Detective Noelle Marshall is on the case where a girl’s body is found, as she looks to the community surrounding the death she finds their is more than meets the eye with suspicious characters and secrets, she has to piece together what really happened to this poor girl. Then there is another story that intertwines with this case where FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes is investigating a completely different kind of case but how can they be linked? it was a fast paced thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat. I wanted to read quickly to find out what would happen but at the same time I wanted to saviour how good the story was. Absolutely brilliant thriller that I cannot wait to continue with this series.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Ten years ago, in the depths of the Finnish winter, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter was taken—and never found.

Now, in the quiet streets of Lincoln, girls are disappearing again. When one is found on the cathedral steps, clutching a chilling clue linked to the decade-old abduction, there’s only one person who can solve the case: Elea.

Dragged back into her nightmare, she’s determined to bring her daughter home this time—no matter the cost.

But is she chasing a ghost, or on the verge of uncovering a truth that will shatter everything?

My Thoughts:

This is book One of A Detective Elea Baker Novel. Many years ago Detective Elea Baker’s world turned upside down when something horrendous happened. Elea has never forgotten and when it starts rearing it’s ugly head again Elea wonders if this is a chance to find out what really happened to her daughter. She wants justice and that is what she is going to get. I love reading a new detective Series and this one did not disappoint, when the detective is involved but it is more close to home for them it makes it more personal and I was hopeful she would get more answers as to what happened a long time ago, I was really rooting for her. The story was gripping and held my attention all the way through, I was on tenterhooks wondering where the story was going to lead. I thought it was brilliant.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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When she unexpectedly loses her husband, Yvonne Kellerman’s world turns quiet and grey. Five years on, her days are filled with the gentle chatter of her loyal parrot, Trevor, and the comfort of her crafting table—but she can’t shake the feeling that life is slipping her by and Yvonne feels lost and lonelier than ever.

When she joins the local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall, Yvonne expects nothing more than a few afternoons of sewing. Instead, amongst the other local crafters, she discovers friendship, laughter and a renewed appreciation for her gorgeous Lake District home. It’s a reminder that she isn’t alone and, with each new stitch, her confidence returns, and so does her belief that it’s never too late for fresh starts and new beginnings.

When a familiar face from her past reappears, Yvonne finds herself standing at a crossroads: will she protect her heart, or embrace the chance to love—and truly live—again?

My Thoughts:

Yvonne’s world is turned upside down when her husband of so many years passes away, she loves her crafting and spends time doing crafts but feels very lonely by herself. She decides enough is enough and sees that the local Village Hall has a crafting club so decides to bite the bullet and join. Apprehensive and nervous, she realises that these women don’t bite and most of them are in the same situation as her. Yvonne starts to open up more and starts doing a bit more for herself and realises she is loving her new life and her new friends. I loved meeting all the other crafters and hearing some of their stories. Even though it was a sad story to begin with, it was lovely to see how much joy it brought to Yvonne and to see her doing much better. It was a cosy read full of warmth and hope. I really enjoyed it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Can a cake change your life?

Clemmie Rose’s great-great-grandmother’s beloved clementine torte is her ticket to the prestigious Royal Baking Competition. A win could put Puffin Island’s charming Café on the Coast on the map, land Clemmie her very own cookbook deal, and secure her a coveted invitation to a royal garden party.

But when she discovers the competition is being hosted aboard the Royal Yacht by none other than her ex, Oliver Lockwood, the stakes – and the soufflés –suddenly rise, and Clemmie’s bid for the Golden Whisk trophy is at risk of collapsing like an underbaked sponge.

When a decades-old secret is thrown into the mix, she’ll need more than the perfect recipe to keep her dreams from crumbling.

My Thoughts:

This is book four in the Puffin Island Series but can be read as a standalone like I have done, though I will be reading the previous books as I just loved this one. When Clemmie gets picked to bake for a baking competition she cannot wait, everyone loves her cakes and she feels as though this could be the making of her. Though there is stiff competition and Clemmie does have a few wobbles especially when she finds out one of the judges is a former lover. When things start going wrong Clemmie has to decide what she really wants. It was a great and fun story to read, I liked Clemmie instantly and loved reading about the cakes she made, it was quite comforting to read on a cold day. It felt a very satisfying read to escape with. I will be going back and reading the previous books and I cannot wait to read the last book in the series when it comes out.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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