Where we belong - Sarah Bennett

 

On paper, Hope Travers has an idyllic life.

Living in a bustling farmhouse with her mum, aunt and uncles, cousin and too many dogs to count, surrounded by the breath-taking Cotswolds countryside, she knows she is privileged and protected.

But all families have secrets, and the Travers family are no exception. Their farmhouse sits in the grounds of the Juniper Meadows estate, passed down through the generations and now being made to pay its own way with a myriad of businesses and projects. When a construction crew uncover what appear to be historical ruins, the history of the Travers family is put under ever closer scrutiny as a dig gets underway.

Hope may have found a blossoming romance with local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson who is running the dig, but when things start to go wrong around the estate and family secrets begin to be revealed, Hope wonders if she’s made a big mistake in digging up the past.

My Review:

I had high hopes for this new series from Sarah Bennett and this is a brilliant start. I adored Mermaids Point so was excited to see where we would be next. Juniper Meadows sounds great, I love the idea of some big estate and already can sense there is so much to explore and discover. There are some lovely characters (and already one I could happily not see again) that have created some interesting relationships I am keen to see develop. I wonder what will play out, who will find love etc. 
With family secrets, historic finds, romance and drama; I feel like there is much more to come and I couldn’t be happier. I am already intrigued and love the quirky characters. 
A nicely paced, calm read that pulls you in from the start, I loved the historic element and wonder if more will come from that. I have high hopes for Cameron and Hope, will there romance be a short term or something long lasting? Will any further secrets be uncovered affecting the lives of the family?
A lovely read, realistic and with characters that are believable and interesting. I will look forward to the next!

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3jQEYqg

Author Bio:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas. 

Social Media Links:

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Bookbub profile: Sarah Bennett Books - BookBub

The Secret Notebook - Julia Wild

 

When Izzie Dean’s beloved nan, Molly Blackshaw, passes away, Izzie returns to the Blackpool bungalow where she grew up, to say goodbye once and for all. When Izzie’s homecoming reunites her with her first love, Justin Swift, every emotion that Izzie has repressed since the day he broke her heart comes rushing to the surface. But then an unexpected discovery changes everything.

Between the pages of the battered secret diary Molly kept during WWII, Izzie discovers a story of love, heartbreak, and the incomparable hardship of life in a world at war. Reading her grandmother’s words soon puts her own story into perspective, and suddenly Izzie realises that the only thing holding her back from happiness, might be herself. Now she just has to convince Justin that they deserve a second chance at forever…

Purchase Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08RS6JBRJ/

My Review:

A truly lovely, sweet and romantic story with dual timelines – that of Molly finding true, lasting love and Izzie her granddaughter, discovering secrets and healing her own personal wounds.

Upon her beloved grandmothers death, Izzie returns to her bungalow with the intention to clear it out, redecorate and sell up. Discovering an old diary reveals a heart-breaking story that had long been buried; all whilst Izzie is coming to terms with her own loss she must also face up to the future. She runs into long lost love, Justin and is still hurt by what did or did not happen in the past.

As much as I enjoyed Izzie’s story and her reconnecting with Justin, and finding herself again; I was completely swept up in Molly’s story. I could have just read a whole book on her and the Blackshaw twins.. I was hooked.

This book is very well written, so engaging, I liked the characters and didn’t feel anything was overly complicated or distracting. It’s a heartwarming story full of love, loss and truth.

A gorgeous, relaxing read. Highly recommended. 

Author Bio:

Lancashire born, I moved to Bedfordshire in the late seventies, married and started a family. I’m a past Hon Sec of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, have been a member since 1993 when I joined their New Writers’ Scheme as a probationer. That came about after winning a week’s historical writing course on the strength of the first chapter of my third Poldark-era romance. The tutor on the last day loved the story and handed me details of the Romantic Novelists’ Association – she said I absolutely must join as they would be able to help me towards publication.

Some four years later my first published book, Dark Canvas, won the RNA’s New Writer’s Award in 1997, the sixth, Illusions, won the RNA’s Romance Prize in 2003.

After working in the local library service for 18 years, during library cut-backs I took the leap to become self-employed as a writer and worked on releasing my backlist as eBooks for Kindle.

Most recently, I’ve had the pleasure of working with amazing Charlotte Ledger when she pulled me from the writing wilderness and have now signed a three-book deal with One More Chapter.

Social Media Links –                      www.facebook.com/authorjuliawild

Twitter:                                             @juliawildauthor

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Website:                                          www.juliawildauthor.co.uk

It started with a secret - Jill Mansell

The feel-good novel of the year from the Sunday Times bestselling author of MAYBE THIS TIME. Everyone has a secret - and there's no knowing what will happen when those secrets start to come out ...

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

Lainey has just 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. Yes, everyone thinks she's part of a couple and it's tricky keeping this secret. But at least she's not looking for love: with her disastrous relationship history, men are definitely off the agenda.

Except Seth, the actor's grandson, really is very attractive. There's growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. What would happen if he knew the truth?

But Lainey's not the only one with a secret - it seems everyone has them! And they're all about to start unravelling... 

My Review:

Jill Mansell has been a long-standing favourite of mine. Getting to cosy up with another book is a pleasure, an even bigger pleasure is to be able to be part of the blog tour for her latest release.  There has never been a Jill Mansell book that doesn’t draw me in and keep me hooked from the first word right until ‘The End.’

'It started with a secret' is another example of this. I was hooked as soon as I started reading, not wanting to put it down for a second.

I loved the fabulous array of characters, such a wild and varied bunch that gel together so

well throughout the story. Lainey and her (gay) ‘boyfriend’ arrive in St. Carys to work for a family, comprised of an older famous film star, his daughter in law, adult grandson Seth and several children. Here the adventure really begins and the lovely Lainey, who is managing this household, has her work cut out for her.

With some hilarious moments between Lainey and Richard, I really enjoyed their relationship. Her attempt at improving how well he treats his fans leads to a surprise discovery but a tender, life changing moment. I also found some of Majella’s dating disasters incredibly funny – that poor woman, putting herself out there only to end up opposite some real duds!

Lainey has a very special relationship with each member of the family, knowing each of their secrets and helping them along the way, whilst following her own heart. She’s one special lady. She brought out the best in each character.

I enjoyed how the threads of this book were interwoven into a beautiful tapestry, with so much happening it would be easy to get complicated or confusing, but Mansell executes it with ease.

The only disappointment? That it had to end. 

A wonderful read that I am sure will delight fans of the author and those who have yet to discover the delight of her work.  

About the Author:

Jill Mansell is the author of over twenty Sunday Times bestsellers including The One You

Really Want and Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay.  Take a Chance on Me won the RNA’s Romantic Comedy Prize, and in 2015 the RNA presented Jill with an outstanding achievement award. 

Jill’s personal favourite amongst her novels is Three Amazing Things About You, which is about cystic fibrosis and organ donation; to her great delight, many people have joined the organ donor register as a direct result of reading this novel.

Jill started writing fiction while working in the field of Clinical Neurophysiology in the NHS, but now writes full time. She lives in Bristol with her family.