Book Review - The Woman Who Kept Everything by Jane Gilley - #HolidayReading Madeira

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Woman Who Kept Everything

Author: Jane Gilley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 11th July 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

The Lady in the Van meets The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in this uplifting, funny and moving debut novel about a 79-year-old hoarder who is convinced the world is against her.

79-year-old Gloria Frensham is a hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, cardboard boxes and endless knick-knacks that are stacked into every room of her home, and teeter in piles along the landing and up the stairs.

She hasn’t left the house in years, but when a sudden smell of burning signifies real danger, she is forced to make a sudden departure and leave behind her beloved possessions.

Determined she’s not ready for a care home, Gloria sets out to discover what life still has to offer her. It’s time to navigate the outside world on her own, one step at a time, with just one very small suitcase in tow…

Heart-warming and poignant in equal measure, this is a story about the loneliness of life, the struggles of growing old, the power of kindness, and the bravery it takes to leave our comfort zones.

What an enjoyable gem of a book this turned out to be.  I'm just sorry I didn't read it sooner!

Gloria starts the book rather downtrodden, she is living in a hoarders paradise, but a nightmare for an outsider, she barely cooks, washes from a sink, and seems to have almost given up on life. 

When an electrical fault is found, she is moved into a home for a bit, and from there its a journey of self discovery for this marvellous septuagenarian. 

I really don't want to spoil what happens from that turning point, but expect adventure, expect family disagreements, and a whole new lease of life for Gloria. 

It's always lovely to see an older main character, and Gloria is someone I took to my heart, she has a great personality and a lovely way of looking at things. 

It was a sheer joy to read her story, and see her develop over the book.  

This is the first book I've devoured by the author, I read it in a few short hours, and was hooked, and it certainly won't be the last.

A truly enjoyable and inspiring read, and I hope to be even a bit like Gloria in my twilight years!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Lies Lies Lies

Author: Adele Park

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: HQ Showcase Event

Publisher: HQ 

Publication Date: 5th September 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Daisy and Simon’s marriage is great, isn’t it?

After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place. A happy little family of three.

And so what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes – Daisy’s used to it, she knows he’s letting off steam. Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control. And that happy little family of three will never be the same again.

In Lies Lies Lies Sunday Times bestseller Adele Parks explores the darkest corners of a relationship in freefall in a mesmerising tale of marriage and secrets.

Well that is a title that doesn't lie... unlike most of the book that is full of lies!! 

It starts off as a relatively gentle book about a couple struggling in their marriage, struggling to conceive a new baby,  and where one of the couple is clearly an alcoholic, while the other seems scared of large social situations.

And don't get me wrong its enjoyable, and the whole of part 1 is just that, its great for setting the scene, you get to know all the key characters but then wham. 

We enter part 2 and everything changes and slowly  we realise that almost everything we know isn't quite true.  That Simon and Daisy are both long established competent liars, to each other and to everyone around them. 

The book becomes quite a bit darker and more intense and to my feelings, incredibly addictive to read, I had to know what was going to happen next and probably wouldn't have been able to predict any of it even if I'd tried. 

There is a large amount of story in this book and I couldn't get enough of it. It take into account various deep tricky subjects, which have clearly been researched well, and I really enjoyed the writing style too.  Everything was clearly set out, each chapter told you the date and also which character was the focus, so at no point could you feel lost. 

It's been a while since I last read an Adele Parks, and I'm delighted with this new direction, this darker feel to her writing. It definitely won't be as long a before my next one.  I thoroughly enjoyed this duplicitous book! 

Thank you to HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Marriage on Madison Avenue

Author: Lauren Layne

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 28th January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they've been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on and, knowing that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother, announces he's already engaged...to Audrey.

But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of heart and wit, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page. Look out for the other two titles, Passion on Park Avenue and Love on Lexington Avenue

Want more fun, fresh, flirty and very sexy rom-com? Check out Lauren's Oxford series and don't miss her warm, witty and sexy Wedding Belles series and the I Do, I Don't series, as well as the romantic standalones in the Love, Unexpectedly series.

What a unique opening to a book. Certainly not the circumstances I'd normally expect a female friendship to form in.  I was hooked from that point on and it was early in chapter 1 when I realised that perhaps not reading the others in the series was a mistake as I worked have loved to know their stories. 

That being said Audrey and Clarke's story is pretty much perfect,  taking the fake boyfriend trope to a whole new level. 

I loved their reasons for the fake relationship and as best friends they were always going to have each other's best interests at heart.  But equally I think I'm not alone in hoping that the story progressed in the way it did.

I loved the scene in the lingerie shop, it was hilarious. And all interactions between Audrey and Clarke were fabulous. 

This is the first book I've read by this author and it definitely wont be the last.  I loved every minute of it. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Suddenly Single

Author: Carol Wyer

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo Escape

Publication Date: 8th April 2019

Rating: 4.5 Stars

When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flees her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.

But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…

This enthralling romantic comedy of self-discovery and new beginnings is perfect for fans of Kirsty Greenwood, Colleen Coleman and Marian Keyes.

It took me a while to gel with this book, possibly in part due to exhaustion having just come back from a holiday, and partly as I think it took me a while to really understand Chloe. 

But wow once I had that empathy, and could  see just what she is living with, and discovered how much I detested her almost ex-husband, while loving the new key people in her life, and I started to really love this book. 

To me what really made this book incredibly enjoyable is the various singletons events that Chloe's neighbour Eleanor insisted Chloe to go to.   The sheer variety of events, regularity of them and in case hilarity of what was being described was brilliant.  If this club existed in real life near me I would potentially be tempted to joint, as who wouldn't want to do giant sumo wrestling, duck herding and tasks from taskmaster, to name just a few! 

There is a deeper side to this too, as this book focuses heavily on social anxiety, which Carol Wyer has clearly researched a lot.  I might be on the quiet / shy side in large groups but it's nothing compared a proper condition, in which Chloe let's us in regularly into the various  things that could happen in uncomfortable situations. 

Chloe hasn't had the easiest of lives but since moving to Sunny Meadow Farm, and meeting these new people her life is changing bit by bit and its so heartwarming to see. 

Oh and Ronnie the Dog is adorable, and  then there is the sorts of books that Chloe writes, I loved reading those sections too. 

A thoroughly entertaining book from an author that I love. 

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - Escape to the French Farmhouse by Victoria Brownlee - #HolidayReading Madeira

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Escape to the French Farmhouse

Author: Victoria Brownlee

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 25th July 2019

Rating: Four Stars

Ella moved to Paris on a whim - and found happily ever after.

But after six months of romantic bliss, living with her French boyfriend, cheesemonger Serge, Ella's new life is thrown off course. An unplanned pregnancy doesn't seem too bad, until Serge unexpectedly decides to move their growing family to a goat farm in the Loire Valley, without consulting Ella.

Can Ella and Serge's relationship survive their relocation to the depths of the French countryside?

Victoria Brownlee is a new author to me, I did intend buy her previous book but failed to get there, so I came into this without having a clue what to expect. 

Possibly should have realised it was a sequel, but honestly other than twigging quite early on that it was, the book can easily be read as a standalone.  I never felt disadvantaged from not having seen exactly how Ella and Serge got together. 

i loved seeing how this couple dealt with a pregnancy and a possibly in Ella's case reluctant moving from Paris to the french countryside and taking over a goat farm!

You really get a feel for the French way of life in this book, which I enjoyed immensely. 

Purely down to personal preference there was perhaps a bit too much cheese mentioned, but that is simply because I don't eat it, and have no desire to learn much about the million varieties there appear to be!!

Besides that minor point, I loved this book. It has an easy to read writing style, which flowed really well, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. 

I enjoyed seeing how two people who are quite different can try to become a family unit and their friends and family were a welcome set of characters to get to know. 

With fab French Food, the Loire Valley, some bits of Paris life, a new business and a baby on the way, this is a really entertaining read, and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Dumped, Actually by Nick Spalding - #HolidayReading Madeira

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Dumped, Actually

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 16th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

When Ollie Sweet is very publicly dumped by ‘The One’, his seemingly perfect world dissolves into misery, self-pity, and a bizarre rooftop meeting with a suicidal man in flip-flops. While most would seek out the support of loved ones at such a torrid time, natural-born journalist Ollie asks the subscribers of his website: how did they get over their failed relationships?

When Ollie follows some of their more extreme advice, chaos inevitably ensues, including accidentally exposing himself to some unsuspecting wildlife, jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane, and suffering from an extremely painful bottom, courtesy of a maniacal Scotsman.

Of course, all of this goes down a storm with his online following, and Ollie soon finds himself the centre of everyone’s attention – whether he likes it or not!

With his eclectic collection of supporters to guide him, can Ollie mend his broken heart, heal his broken bottom, and learn to find happiness again?

Without a doubt the funniest book Nick Spalding has ever written. 

Even the scene that really shouldn't have you laughing out loud, due to the serious undertones, was hilarious, with perfect comic timing. 

From the opening of the over the top proposal that goes wrong, which has many humourous bits, to everything that comes after it, time and time and again I was giggling, and occasionally probably getting strange looks from those around me. 

I tend to find this is an author whose humour is on my wave length and this was no exception. 

Whatever you think may be about to happen next, may just surprise you, as  it is so well written. 

Who knew being dumped publicly could lead to all of this fun!

Ollie Sweet is exactly that, he is sweet, he is a romantic, he's idealistic and a people pleaser and it leads him into to some wonderful situations. 

I adored every laugh filled moment of this book and recommend if to for anyone who is looking for some light hearted, fun in their life. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - It Started With A Secret by Jill Mansell - #HolidayReading Mexico - Blog Tour

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: It Started With a Secret

Author: Jill Mansell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Random Things Blog Tours

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 23rd January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

The trouble with secrets is that you can't guess what the consequences will be . . .

Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she's living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired - if far-from-retiring - actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It's definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.

At least Lainey isn't looking for love. It's time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor's grandson, really is rather attractive. There's growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn't been honest with him?

Lainey's not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything's about to start unravelling . . .

It is always a pleasure to sit down and read a brand new Jill Mansell book, and this was no exception. 

I was drawn into the story immediately, and couldn't help bu keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. 

The book returns to a familiar sounding area of Cornwall for Jill Mansell fans, St. Carys, which is made up of some bays that I definitely recall seeing as settings before. However if you have never read a book from the author don't fear it truly is 100% a standalone, I've never met any of these characters before. 

Lainey and Kit are good friends but pose as a couple to get a new job looking after a large family which includes a famous older relative, a single mother,  teenage twin girls, an 11 year old son and a gorgeous adult step brother - who need organisation, odd jobs and generally managing. 

I loved all the members of this family, some of which get far more of of a story than others, but I loved Richard and how he doesn't or does treat his fans!  And I loved Kit and Lainey for various reasons and actually well all of the characters . 

All had their upsides to them, well apart from some of the people Majella tries dating!

I loved every moment of this, including the couple of family secrets, the way Lainey is with everyone especially when helping Seth out on a couple of key occasions. 

A truly enjoyable story that only upset me because I reached the end and would have happily kept on reading for a lot longer. Means I'll probably ave to wait another year for the next book from one of my all time favourite authors, which is just far too long, but great stories do take time to write, so I'm happy to try to be patient!!

Thank you to Anne Cater for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Please follow along with the rest of the blog tour to hear more about this fabulous book

Book Review - Somewhere Close to Happy by Lia Louis - #HolidayReading Mexico

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Somewhere Close to Happy

Author: Lia Louis

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Trapeze

Publication Date: 23rd January 2020 

Rating: 4 Stars

Lizzie James is happy.
She has a steady office job (with a steady stream of snacks), has had the same best friend since school, and she sees her family every Thursday night for take-away and trashy TV. Lizzie likes her uncomplicated life.

Then a letter arrives one day from her first love, Roman. A letter dated the day he disappeared, 12 years before. As Lizzie uncovers the secrets of the letter, she discovers what really happened the year her life fell apart - and all avenues lead back to Roman.

Lizzie James thought she was happy, or somewhere close to happy, at least. Now she's not so sure.

A very impressive debut novel, that delves into mental health and some other issues, while also being a journey of trying to rediscover yourself. 

It's the story of Lizzie and Roman who were incredibly close when they were teens, until Roman just disappeared out of her life 13 years ago. 

She has had no clue where he is, but out of the blue she recieves a letter that leads her to search for him.

Within this search as readers we are treated to chapters dealing with events 13 years ago, which were very interesting, especially the time they both spent in The Grove. 

I found it surprisingly fast to read, and it was very hard to tear myself away from the story at times. 

I have a feeling that elements of this book will be staying with me for a while, which is always a sign of a good book in my eyes. 

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - A Springtime to Remember by Lucy Coleman - #HolidayReading Mexico

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: A Springtime to Remember

Author: Lucy Coleman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books 

Publication Date: 26th December 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Let Lucy Coleman transport you to glorious, sun-drenched France, for the perfect feel-good read.Paris and the Palace of Versailles have always meant a lot to TV producer Lexie. Her grandma Viv spent a year there, but her adventures and memories were never discussed, and Lexie has long wondered why they were a family secret.

When work presents the perfect excuse to spend Springtime in Versailles, Lexie delves into Viv’s old diaries and scrapbooks, and with the help of handsome interpreter Ronan, she is soon learning more about the characters that tend to the magnificent gardens, now and in the past.

In amongst the beauty and splendour of the French countryside, a story of lost love, rivalry and tragedy unfolds. Can Lexie and Ronan right the wrongs of the past, and will France play its tricks on them both before Lexie has to go home? Will this truly be a Springtime to Remember…?

Let Lucy Coleman sweep you away with this perfect feel-good love story. Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Sue Moorcroft and Heidi Swain.

It is clear from the detailed descriptions that the author has a clear affinity for The Palace of Versailles. 

Personally I'm not as keen on the building, or it's history, but I didn't let the sections that seemed to be dedicated to the Palace itself detract me from the story being told. 

And in fact everything to do with the gardens, I did find very interesting, which is lucky since Lexie is filming a series about the gardens and gardeners of Versailles. 

She is also determined to find out just what happened during her grandmother's year working there in the 60s, as it was never spoken about. 

Ronan is the chosen interpreter for this project but he also has a personal connection to the gardens, and its quite clear that there is a spark between him and Lexie very early on. 

I enjoyed the various plot points, and the writing, and although it's not my favourite book from the author, I still thought it was really good and entertaining. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - The Year of Starting Over by Karen King - #HolidayReading Madeira

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Year of Starting Over

Author: Karen King

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 7th February 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

What if – to find yourself – you had to run away?

Last year was meant to be when Holly got her happy-ever-after. But stuck in a job that’s going nowhere, and a relationship that feels more like it’s going backwards… this year Holly has decided it’s time to change her life. She just has to:

– End the relationship with the commitment-phobic boyfriend
– Go on a proper adventure
– Learn to be herself again
– Definitely, categorically not fall in love.

Cramming her belongings into her little yellow Mini, Holly drives on to a ferry bound to Spain, to stay at a remote farmhouse near a beautiful village in the Andalusian hills.

But the day she arrives she nearly crashes her car into a gorgeous guy on a motorbike. He’s called Matias and their paths keep crossing, much to Holly’s irritation. Because as she learns to speak Spanish from the locals, finally starts laying out plans for her own design business, and sips sangria in the sunlit village square, Holly is beginning to remember who she is and what she wants.

So she won’t allow herself be distracted by Matias. Because this year – for Holly – there are more important things in life than love. And she won’t let yet another bad relationship ruin everything… will she?

A moving and uplifting romantic comedy about living each moment and learning to trust yourself again, for fans of Jenny Hale, Debbie Macomber, and Sophie Kinsella.

A story about making the most of a new situation, and of taking a year away from your regular life to follow your dreams. 

Holly manages to come up with a list of 12 things over the next year to complete, from riding a motorcycle, to trying 50 different flavours of ice-cream, to larger ones such as being herself and living abroad, and conquering a fear. 

I love how she moves to Spain for a few months to help her friends set up an artists retreat,  while also expanding her online design business. 

I would have loved to have seen all of Hollie's designs as they sounded impressive. 

I loved this look at Andalusian life in the countryside, high up in the hills, and seeing how Holly is able to integrate herself into life there. 

Her new neighbour Matias is rather sexy and they are both adamant that they don't need romance in their life... but their friendship is really good to watch. 

I loved reading about Hollie's year, the new friends she makes, her attempts to accomplish everything on her list, and just her courage to start her life over and try to enhance it the best way she can. 

It's a really enjoyable book, and had me really entertained for a few hours. 

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - The Tanglewood Wedding Shop by Lilac Mills

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Tanglewood Wedding Shop

Author: Lilac Mills

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo Escape

Publication Date: 13th January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something untrue…

Edie has enough on her plate keeping her tyrannical boss happy at Moira’s Wedding Shop. So when society bride Tia begs Edie to design her wedding dress – and keep it a secret from the domineering mother-in-law to be – Edie reluctantly says ‘I will’ to making Tia’s dream come true. If her deception is found out, though, it would mean losing her job…

Meanwhile best man James has his eye on Edie and he’s proving ever harder for her to resist. James is upper-crust and Edie’s one unexpected bill away from the breadline – they’re from completely different worlds and there’s no way it can ever work between them… right?

A charming, feel-good romance for fans of Daisy James, Holly Martin and Portia MacIntosh.

Easily my favourite book of this Tanglewood series - it has adorable animals, wedding dresses, a really lovely child, a fabulous book boyfriend and Edie who is just trying to make ends meet and provide for her son. 

First up I really need to say how much I really disliked both Moira, Edie's boss at the Wedding dress shop, and also Tia's mother in-law Julia. If they both such frustrating people, then Tia would never had to ask Edie to make her dream wedding dress come true, and and Edie may not have ended up in the sticky situation she was in. 

Although it is thanks to Tia, that Edie gets to spend time with James and its clear even if neither of them seem to realise it, that there is a connection between them, and that it could be only a matter of time. 

James is fascinating, he is so keen on wildlife and conservation, and his choices of locations to take Edie on dates are rather different. Although personally I'm not sure I would have fancied visiting an apiary no matter how much I may want to get to know the man. 

And I just loved Mary, she was adorable and some of the scenes involving her were both funny and hare-raising. 

Although it reads well as a standalone, I started this mere hours after I finished book 2 in the series and I'm so glad I did, as it made a lovely change to read books in a series one after another, thus instantly feeling at home with the characters, the recurring characters (Betty is such a tonic!), the location  and of course the engaging writing style. 

I really did enjoy every single moment I spent with Edie and James, and thoroughly enjoyed this book which I raced through in under a day. 

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Tanglewood Flower Shop by Lilac Mills

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Tanglewood Flower Shop 

Author: Lilac Mills

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo Escape

Publication Date: 30th August 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Love can be a thorny business.
When Tanglewood flower shop owner Leanne enters Budding Stars – a floristry TV competition – she’s shocked to make it through to the televised stages where the pressure grows to prove herself a success.

Luckily for Leanne, new Tanglewood park ranger, Rex, is a rose among the thorns as he provides support and friendship that could blossom into something more…

But Rex’s ex-girlfriend appears with some shocking news, and between busy schedules and the occasional mountain rescue, Leanne can’t see how romance could possibly bloom. And with a new job opportunity suddenly sprouting up, will she need to uproot her life and leave Tanglewood entirely?

This uplifting romance is perfect for fans of Daisy James, Holly Martin and Portia Macintosh.

It was lovely to be back in Tanglewood with a completely new standalone story. 

I have no idea if the Budding Stars competition is based on any real TV floristry competition but if it isn't i would have to see it made into a programme, as it sounds so creative compared with some of the other various TV talent shows out there! 

And of course I was willing Leanne on the whole time, and she comes up with some incredibly inventive ideas for her arrangements. 

But it is the interactions with Rex that I loved the most even if I did wish they would learn to communicate better.  Rex is wonderful even if he does have a rather dog like sounding name. Thankfully he is a dog lover and seeing him bond with his new puppy Nell is delightful. 

Of course Leanne would have liked to have kept Nell for herself as she was born in a litter at her family's farm and she also loved that puppy, but it gave her an instant connection with Rex.  I liked learning about Rex's job and his mountain rescue training too.  There is just something about that man that I fell for, and really felt sorry for him when a shocking blast from his past re-entered his life. 

For a good amount of the book I really was wondering whether or not this would be the most shocking rom com ever with regards the ending.  I really couldn't work out how it would come together for the ending I craved... but if you want to read an enjoyable story and find out for yourself then its definitely worth a read. 

In the meantime I'm opening up The Tanglewood Wedding Shop and going to curl up with the next book in the series, as just for once waiting to read the next book in a series seems like a silly idea, while I'm enjoying this series so much. 

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick - #HolidayReading Madeira

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: The Library of Lost and Found

Author: Phaedra Patrick

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ 

Publication Date: 26th March 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

A librarian’s discovery of a mysterious book sparks the journey of a lifetime in the delightful new novel from the bestselling author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people, though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.

All of that changes when a mysterious book arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her grandmother Zelda, who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heart-warming reminder that even the quietest life has the potential to be extraordinary.

Phaedra Patrick is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, or at least one that I know I need to read all of her books of!

There is something rather special about this lovely plot, and seeing Martha grow as a person. 

In fact the character development is terrific all around, as family secrets are uncovered, and we get to know multiple generations of Martha's family. 

There are small sections in the past from Betty, Martha's mum, so we can see just closely the sort of parents Martha had, and how they have affected her life. 

Initially I though Martha was a bit of a doormat, she seemed to be saying yes to everything anyone asked of her, no matter how many other hundreds of things she hadn't quite completed yet.   I was though delighted to see her grow in confidence as the book progressed. 

And the book that triggers all of this growth in Martha is a rather unique one, and she is determined to uncover just why the book even exists. 

Dotted throughout are stories that a young Martha wrote, which are really imaginative and show the children perceive adult situations at a lot more than most give them credit for. 

Such a quick book to read and incredibly enjoyable at that, I loved every moment of it. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.