NetGalley Reviewer nix21230

After a tragic accident which claims the life of her daughter Amanda and son-in-law, Lily is left to care for Emma, her young granddaughter.   Lily is determined to give Emma the best possible life that she can. Part of this includes to fulfil the dream Amanda had of opening a quilt shop. She had already bought the house for the shop but it requires A LOT of work.  With the mantra of " Don’t think about the end. Just tackle one thing at a time " Lily is slowly achieving the dream with support of her quilting group and the community.   Through love, hard work, perseverance, and the therapeutic act of quilting, Lily and Emma gradually heal their wounds and find hope for the future.

Dark Secrets on Dressmakers' Alley is the latest instalment in the gritty, historical saga series set in London's East End in 1924.  It builds on the first book in the series "Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley" with many of the characters returning and coming further to life.  The girls are enjoying their work at Miss Susie's, the dressmaker's run by a former maid. Recently there has been a series of women being attached and robbed, even in broad daylight.  The Police seem too busy (and somewhat incompetent) so the men of the Dressmakers' Alley create a rota to keep an eye on the area and to keep their wives, girlfriends and sisters safe. The story felt a bit darker than the previous one, and some of the novelty from the first book was now just part of the back story (a Lady designing dresses, a former maid running a business, the Women's Movement, etc).    Dark Secrets on Dressmakers Alley by Rosie Clarke is available on 29 October 2024.

Madeline has fought poverty, worked her way up in life and is very close to having her 'dream life'. She has now been given the opportunity to move to the States and pursue her dream job. To do this, she needs to leave everything behind - something she's more than happy to do, until her family suddenly needs her.  Will she chose herself or her family? Her old life or a new?  Will we judge her? Most certainly. Will we want to be like her? Also, most certainly. Would we have chosen the same as her? Then? Now? The moral dilemmas posed in the story are astronomical - but perhaps would have been less so if Madelaine had been male? Thought provoking and increasingly emotional as more of the past is revealed.  Quotes from the ARC (so may not be in the final version): [...] how she had been the girl who wanted more, while he [...] only wanted enough ‘Don’t you want more?’ [...] ‘I think’ – he paused – ‘that I don’t want more necessarily. I only want enough, and I know that enough...

Cosy, feel good Christmas story with the right amount of family, seasonal festivities, romance and a naughty goat. Rose is working extra in a Christmas shop in London to earn some badly needed cash. It's definitely not her definition of fun, neither is dressing up which apparently was part of the job description. Alistair is in London trying to avoid preparing for Christmas, a season he loathes after his wife walked out on him and his daughter on Christmas Eve. As fates will have it, he enters the shop where Rose works and offers her to organise his Christmas, up in Scotland. To ensure we get the Hallmark story, Rose accepts. Rose goes all in and sets about organising the best Christmas ever for Alistair, his daughter and his extended family.  Slowly, the Christmas magic is spreading to all involved and Alistair is finding that he once again enjoys the celebrations - all made easier by Rose and her warm heart.    A Scottish Christmas by Emma Bennet will be released on 16 ...

We're back in Yule! Tis the season for secrets , is the sequel to The naughty or nice Clause , which I labelled as one of the best Christmas stories I've read in quite a while.  Callaghan has created another feel good story about love and Christmas, without it being over the top sweet. Just like the first book,  Tis the season for secrets , is highly entertaining, with lots of romance and some magic. Perfect for creating Christmas spirits and feel-good.  Preorder now for delivery on 24 November 2024: link to Amazon UK . #TisTheSeasonForSecrets #NetGalley

Henderson goes from strength to strength. Providing just the right mixture of cozy atmosphere and romance in this heart warming second-chance story set at Christmas on the lovely Arran.  Beth and Callum haven't seen each other since they worked together one summer on the island a VERY long time. After Beth accepts a new job on the island, they meet again and rediscover that their feelings for each other are still strong. Both Beth and Callum has undergone changes whilst apart. Beth is working on rediscovering herself, and figuring out where she fist in.Callum has also grown whilst he has confronted his past mistakes.  The story has a festive feel with family, friends and the island all rallying together.  The paperback of "A Christmas Wish on Arran" by Ellie Henderson will be released on 15 October, with the eBook releasing a week later.  Books by Henderson set on Arran; A summer wedding on Arran - my review A Christmas escape to Arran - my review A summer house on A...

The Ballerina of Auschwitz is a retelling of The Choice with approximately 30 per cent entirely new material, which offers readers both a more expansive and more intimate understanding of Edith’s journey. I am humbled by Edith's story, her strength to share it with the world and her outlook on life as shared both in The Choice and in The Ballerina of Auschwitz . It is a very emotional read, much of which is hard to accept actually happened as it is so brutal.  I am forever grateful to Edith and other survivors for sharing their stories. To see that there was hope in all the misery, "if I can survive today, then tomorrow I will be free".  Her realisation that to continue living, rather than simply existing, there is a choice - "to pay attention to what we’ve lost or to pay attention to what we still have". Thank you.   

Not Mine to Keep is a romantic suspense novel about Calliope DiMaggio, who is trying to escape her family's mafia ties. Despite her efforts to live a normal life as a teacher and singer in Nashville, her father's dying wish forces her back into the mafia lifestyle. Even worse, she finds herself in an arranged marriage to a wealthy billionaire, Alessandro Costa. What started as pretend, soon turns real and as Calliope and Alessandro's relationship deepens, they find themselves caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse involving secrets, betrayal, and a deadly threat to their lives.  Great mixture of romantic suspense, strong characters, intense plot twists, and a thrilling storyline, The characters are well-developed and relatable. A fab combination of romance, danger, and family drama, but at times quite dark, with themes of violence and betrayal.  "She’s the kind of friend that points out your crown is slipping, not quietly helps fix it."

The Party Line is another fantastic book by the writing machine that is Carolyn Brown - she's got over 130 published books so far! First things first, the party line has nothing to do with politics, but all to do with the old fashioned telephone exchanges where a real person operator would connect you to the person you wanted to speak with. Small towns have their secrets, and Aunt Grace was supposedly the keeper of a very bid one. In this warm and feel good story we get a bit of mystery, small town gossip, admiration and romance. All nicely mixed up to create an enjoyable story. Aunt Grace has recently passed away leaving everything to Lila, the niece she treated like her own granddaughter. The neighbour, Jasper, was Grace's oldest friend and he was always like a grandfather to Lila, and he's providing great support to Lila as she deals with the loss of her aunt. Connor is another person who brings depth and extra meaning to the story.  Highly recommended. Other books by Ca...

Travel writing and historical events are blended together in this beautiful and inspiring story told over two timelines.  1927. Violet is a student at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women and she clearly an early journaller, writing down her thoughts on life as well as documenting her work at the school. Once she realises she's pregnant and not yet married, she decides to escape the school before it's too late. She embarks on an epic journey to Nepal to be with the father of the child, a fellow student from the gardening school (the male part of it...).  2020. Daisy has come across Violet's journals and when she finds herself divorced and the children have flown the nest, she decides to follow her dream of retracing the footsteps of her great-great-aunt Violet. I normally dislike Covid being part of fiction books, but in this one, Fiona Valpy has skilfully used it to strengthen the story, to make it more believable.  Lovely feel-good story with botanics thrown in a...

This Is Hawkward by Joelle Evans is part of the shared Tuft Swallow world series written by seven different authors. All the stories are set in a cosy, small town full of charming people, all keen on bird jokes and minding each others' businesses...  This Is Hawkward is the sixth story in the series, and we get to meet Callie a first grade teacher and cornhole champion who's recently arrived in Tuft Swallow. She loves her new town and is fast making friends. including with the Goat Mayor Winston.  Leo has had to return back home, to get support from his parents, after his relationship broke down. His 12 year old daughter is not too happy about the move... Leo is currently working as sports coach at the local school. Callie is fighting her attraction to Leo as she's not planning on staying in Tuft Swallow and she doesn't want to give the wrong messages to Lexie, Leo's daughter. Lexie is hell bent on getting Callie and her dad together and sets up a fundraising compet...

This is a two-part story which does what it says on the tin: mafia, bad boys, enemies to lovers, and some steam. VICIOUS HEIR: Enemies to lovers. Force marriage.  This Angel and Emma' story. Emma saves Angel's life and as a mob thank you, she's made Angels captive.  BRUTAL ENFORCER: Revenge turns to mutual love. This is Omar and Lyce's story. Lyce is the daughter of the rivalling family and their union is less than applauded by their families. 

FOR FORK'S SAKE is the third book in the Farm 2 Forking author collaboration. It can be read stand-alone, but I recommend you read "Since you've bean gone" and " Butter you up" before starting this one as there's a well-developed backstory adding more richness to most of the characters. They are also FAB stories!! We return to the Bedd family in Fork Lick, New York. Sam is the uber bright kid, who none in the family really understands and he's not feeling like he belongs.  "Family that sucks is still family." He is also working a job he hates, having to deliver a corporate message, at a large conference, that he does not believe in. Diane is in the audience and is horrified of 'his' views.  Fast forward and Sam has quit his old job and found a new one more in line with his own beliefs. Diane is on a drive to do good and ends up at the Bedd family farm. She is immediately 'adopted' by Ethel. When Sam turns up, they realise th...

BUTTER YOU UP is the second book in the Farm 2 Forking author collaboration. You really must have read the first book "Since you've bean gone" before starting this one as there's a backstory adding more richness to most of the characters.  Alex is the grumpy brother in the Bedd family and he is happiest when he's with his milkers (cows) at Udderly Creamery, the farm next to Bedd Fellows. Dealing with people in general and his own family in particular, isn't really his thing.  Molly is on the van journey of her life through the US, slowly ticking off her and her father's 3-item bucket list in each state. Nearing New York, her van's batteries are getting to the end of their lives and she has secured a free space at Bedd Fellows Farm in exchange for helping out on the farm for a few months. To earn more money she also agrees to work in the farm shop at Udderly Creamery, where she meets Alex. There is instant attraction between them and they are both quick...

Tit me with your best shot, by Chantal Roome is part of the shared Tuft Swallow world series - a cosy small town keen on bird jokes - with rom-com stories written by seven different authors.  Tina's Italian Mama is worried about her darling daughter not having married and popped out a handful of children already, but Tina is adamant that she's not interested in dating, and even less so settling down and giving up her independent life as the business owner of Wings and Pizza in Tuft Swallow.  Nick “Odd Duck” (yes, he does collect rubber ducks), has retired from his successful MMA career and is establishing himself back in Tuft Swallow, looking to start a family, run his gym business, excel (oh well, be ok) at cornhole and grow his already large collection of rubber ducks. Roome's contribution to the Tuft Swallow series is as funny and heartwarming as the other books I have read in the series. Just the right amount of romance, complications, laughs, goat and meddling family a...

Maggie and Alex volunteer with "Doctors on Wheels" to help victims of natural disasters. During a hurricane relief effort, they encounter Jean and Rose, two teenage sisters who have lost their parents.  Maggie feels a connection with the girls and decides to foster them, much to the disapproval of her own daughters Willa & Gemma.  Throughout the book, the contrast between the entitled Willa and Gemma, and the orphaned sisters Jean & Rose is stark. The socio economic differences are just one part on the tensions, more so seems to be the fact that Jean and Rose are polite, grateful, and hardworking, despite recently having lost their parents and having to adapt to a new life. Willa and Gemma are just spoiled, superior and annoyingly entitled.  A deeply thought-provoking a touching story, in the end bringing out the best in everyone.   Rolling Toward Clear Skies by Catherine Ryan Hyde will be released on 12 November 2024. 

Since you’ve been gone is the first book in an author collaboration project. It was written by writer goddess Lainey Davis - it’s safe to say this is going to be another success!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to Lainey Davis for allowing me to be part of your secret ARC squad for this book! I am not 100% sure if I should post this review now or wait until closer to release day - 9 May 2024, but it's a FAB book, so here goes!! Since You've Bean Gone by Lainey Davis is the first in the Farm 2 Forking series of books, each written by a different author. The authors are: Lainey Davis, Liz Alden, Karen Grey, Erin Mallon and Ember Leigh. Bedd Fellows Farm, in the fictional town of Fork Lick, New Your is in trouble. The five Bedd siblings have inherited a heap of debt, along with Baa-bara the troublesome sheep, and they’re all too stubborn to accept the help they need to dig their way out of the compost pile. The foreclosure is handled by Lia, the ex of Ethan, the oldest Bedd and there are ...

Cornwall and more specifically a previously uninhabitable small island, close to Bryher in the Isles of Scilly, is the main place for this heart warming and feel good story. Lily, the overworked control freak who leaves London for some luxury relaxation booked by her PA, is not too happy when she realises that there is no mobile phone signal and no wifi... Sam, the rugged islander who is coping with his grief by building a luxury resort, forgot that he actually needs to interact with his guests... These two souls somehow connect, initially out of necessity, but later out of choice. Second Chance Summer by Phillipa Ashley is currently due to be published on 6 June 2024, just in time for peak tourist season.  #SecondChanceSummer #NetGalley

Don’t give up on your dreams to allow others to live theirs.  The author has developed plenty of characters and sub-plots, but I found the progress slightly slow in some parts and I wasn't able to connect with many of the characters. I must also admit that I was hoping for a different ending. The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue by Barbara O'Neal is available now. You may find it under Barbara Samuel in some listings / second hand bookshops as it's been available for a few years. (ARC via Netgalley) 

Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley is the first book in a new series and it's an amazing starter!!! Set in London's East End in 1923, we are treated to a captivating, strong storyline with great characters (especially Winnie Lady Diane and Susie) whilst at the same time learning about history in a very enjoyable and believable way. I am looking forward to the future books in the series.  Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley by Rosie Clarke is currently scheduled to be published on 5 April 2024. #DangerousTimesonDressmakersAlley #NetGalley