The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows – by Jenni Keer

The blurb: 

When Maisie Meadows finds herself single and jobless on New Year’s Day, she resolves that this will be the year she focuses on bringing her scattered family back together. Romance is all very well, but it’s the people you grew up with that matter the most.

But a new job working at an auction house puts her in the path of Theo, a gorgeous but unattainable man who she can’t help but be distracted by. As their bond begins to grow, Maisie finds herself struggling to fulfil the promise she made to herself – but the universe has other ideas, and it’s not long before the Meadows family are thrown back together in the most unlikely of circumstances…

Can dealing with other people’s treasures help Maisie to let go of the past, and teach her who she ought to treasure the most?

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

We follow Maisie Meadows in this story. She finds herself single and with no job at the beginning of the year. Turns you her ex, who also was her boss had an affair. She wants to bring her family back together and also starts a new job at an auction house. 

At the auction house she meets Theo, who really seems to distract her. A connection builds between them and that was great to read about. 

Maisie’s family is quite something. Her siblings are scattered around the world and when they all finally come together things kind of explode. There is a lot of drama invloved and things oft he past are revealed. This makes for an excting storyline, which Jenni Keer transmitted in a great way. 

Her writing is fresh, funny and engaging, I loved every minute of this book. 

It’s about family, friendship, love, relationships and so much more. 

Charming, sweet and full of excitement!

Rating:

Jenni Keer on Twitter: @JenniKeer

Website: https://jennikeer.co.uk

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Wildflower Park (Part 1 & 2) - by Bella Osborne

The blurb: 

Build Me Up, Buttercup (Part 1) and A Budding Romance (Part 2): 

Life’s not always a walk in the park…

When Anna is dumped by her fiancé, she moves in to her own place on the edge of the gorgeous Wildflower Park and pledges to stay off men and focus on her career, but a handsome new colleague seems to thwart her attempts at every turn. And when she receives an accidental text from a mystery man, could it be the new start she needs? Or someone she really shouldn't be falling for?

Anna’s neighbour Sophie is a stressed-out mum-of-two with a third on the way. Her husband is a constant frustration, and their children are a regular source of newly-invented swear words and unidentifiable sticky surfaces.

Luckily, Anna and Sophie have each other – and Wildflower Park proves to be a sanctuary as they map out a path to find the happiness they both deserve…

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

In part 1 we get introduced to the characters, their situation, as well as the setting. 

The main characters are Anna and Sophie. Anna is dumped by her fiancé and moves to a new place in Wildflower Park. She wants to focus on her career, but that is not so easy. A handsome new colleague or a mystery man, well, well... Sophie is a mum of two and the third one is on the way, but her husband is no help at all. 

I love how both of them are the main characters and their friendship is great to follow and read about. 

In part 2 things are starting to heat up and make the story more exciting. Can’t wait to see where things are going now. 

Bella Osborne managed to put in cliff-hangers and really build up the tension. Her writing is charming, entertaining and just lovely!

Rating:

Bella Osborne on Twitter: @osborne_bella

Website: https://www.bellaosborne.com

Part 1: Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Part 2: Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

A Summer Scandal- by Kat French

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb: 

Summer has never been so scandalous…

When Violet moves to Swallow Beach, she inherits a small Victorian pier in with an empty arcade perched on the end of it, and falls in love immediately. She wants nothing more than to rejuvenate it and make it grand again – but how?

When she meets hunky Calvin, inspiration strikes. What if she turned the arcade into an adult-themed arcade full of artisan shops?

Not everyone in the town is happy with the idea, but Violet loves her arcade and business begins to boom. But as tensions worsen and the heat between her and Calvin begins to grow, life at Swallow Beach becomes tricky. Is it worth staying to ride out the storm? And can Violet find her own happy ending before the swallows fly south for the winter?

Sexy, sassy and full of heart, Kat French is back in a new summer sizzler.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

After her grandfather Henry dies, Violet inherits a small Victorian pier in Swallow Beach. Henry has lived there, but he left the place, after his wife Monica died. Violet’s mum Della doesn’t want to speak of the place and when Violet decides to go there for the summer, she is not happy. 

Violet is with Simon, but when he proposes she just can’t say yes. She doesn’t feel that he is the one and she is very clear about that to him. He doesn’t seem to understand though…

Violet goes to Swallow Beach and the adventure begins. She lives in her grandmother’s flat and it’s like no time has passed. The apartment still has all the old interior and it’s filled with some surprises. Violet meets her neighbour Cal, who is very handsome, but also a little mysterious. They get on well from the start, I would say, they had instant chemistry. He sparks her creativity and they start making exciting plans for the pier. She also meets Barty, someone, who actually knew her grandmother. Keris is a fun young girl, who turns out to be a great friend. However, there are also people, who don’t like Violet’s appearance. Her plans for the pier are also not to their taste. 

Cal’s and Violet’s relationship is an up and down, with sparks flying constantly ad there is definitely a deep connection between them. Things get interesting when Simon turns up and Cal has a secret as well. The way he handles things, when that certain person turns up, was confusing to me, but it fit the storyline. 

I really adored the scenes between him ad Violet, so sweet, but also passionate and sexy. 

Violet also finds Monica’s diary and she discovered a lot about her grandmother, also that she is very similar the her. 

For Violet this book is definitely a journey of learning what she really wants in life. There are rocks on the way, but that’s part of it. I loved following her through these important stages of life. 

The plot has a fab flow, the characters are fantastic and the setting is gorgeous as well. Kat French really bring the pier to life and makes a story lively and fresh. 

I was hooked from the start and the storyline was full of drama, passion and love. It’s funny, sexy and the perfect read for summer!

Rating:

Kat French on Twitter: @KFrenchBooks

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Our Little Secret - by Claudia Carroll

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

A sparkling story about what happens when you let someone into your life… but they turn out to want more than you’d bargained for!

Sarah Dee has the perfect life. A high-flying job in a law firm, a beautiful daughter and a house to die for. So how does she find herself looking in through the kitchen window while another woman enjoys it all?

When Sarah takes pity on a struggling young graduate who can’t get a job, she thinks she’s doing the right thing. She’s being kind, generous and helpful to others, as she always is. But as Sarah allows the younger woman into her home, her law firm and even her family, is there more to this pretty youngster than meets the eye? And could this be a good deed that goes further than expected?

Claudia Carroll does it again with a sparkling new novel about what happens when your life becomes up for grabs…

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

With this book Claudia Carroll went into a a different direction, which is exciting and new. I have loved her previous books and I think the idea behind this book is great. 

Claudia Carroll has created some wonderful female characters here. There is of course Sarah, her daughter Darcy and law graduate Lauren. Sarah decides to help Lauren and takes her under her wings. She lets her into her life, her home, her family and that's a big step. How is Lauren really though?! That's the big question. 

Sarah has a very big heart and I loved following her in this story. Darcy added some spice and excitement to the storyline and Lauren added a mystery. It's a great mixture and Claudia Carroll's refreshing, sparkling and vivid style add a lot to the book as well. She brings the characters to life and creates a wonderful storyline around them. 

It was surprising for me and yes I definitely expected something else. The story is told in alternative chapters, from Sarah, Darcy and Sarah's best friend Liz points of view. I really liked that, because we got to read from different perspectives. 

A very interesting plot and wonderfully written. Well done Claudia Carroll!

Rating:

Claudia Carroll on Twitter: @carrollclaudia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Claudiacarrollbooks/

Goodreads - Amazon UK - Amazon US

A Year of New Adventures - by Maddie Please

My own copy

Original Cover

The blurb:

It’s time for Billie Summers to have an adventure … but it might not be exactly what she expected 

Billie Summers has always been quite content in her little cottage in the Cotswolds, sure half the house hasn’t been renovated, but what’s the point when it’s only her! Working part-time at her uncle’s bookshop and planning 3-4 writer retreats with her best friend allows her to pay the bills. What more could anyone want?

That is until Oliver Forest, the bad boy of the book world, turns up to one of her retreats and points out that Billie hasn’t done anything very adventurous. Couple that with her best friend falling head over heels and beginning to drift away from their Friday night wine and dinner plans, Billie is starting to wonder if it isn’t time she take control of her life.

So she starts a list: get fitted (properly) for a bra, fix up rest of house, find a ‘career’ and well, get a tattoo … Her life might just get the makeover it needs, too bad irritating and far-too-attractive for his own good, Oliver keeps showing up …

Because sometimes you need an adventure!

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I really don’t know how to start this review. At several times during reading I was tempted to just put it down, because I just didn’t find a connection to the story and the characters.

I found it really hard to get into the story. The mixture of characters was weird and confusing and parts of the storyline didn’t make any sense. I felt like certain things were not well thought out and the ending was bizarre.

The story has some cute aspects and I liked following Billie around. Unfortunately, that’s it. I really wanted to like this more, but I didn’t.

Rating: