Mahjabeen

This is a great book about 3 generations of women living under one roof, Faye, her daughter Robin, and Robin's daughter Amber. 

Robin has been told by her uncle that her mum, Faye has been an accident and to go and check up on her and take care of her whilst she recovers. This means Robin must move back to her hometown which she had left at age of 16. 

Now back in her hometown Robin discovers her father had left her and her mum a treasure hunt to complete, before he passed. Her mum at first refused to do this treasure hunt, however when Amber arrives from university, she decides to be a part of it. 

Towards the end Robin discovers a secret that her mum had been hiding from her. 

Robin now has to work on her past, her presents as well as what she wants for the future. 

  Luca has been invited to her best friend's wedding. She most likely been dreading this day as she hasn't seen a lot of her friends since university (it's been about 10 years). On the way to venue, someone speeds past Luca, which she is not too happy about. Once she arrives, she leaves a not so very nice note on the person car. As she is one of the last ones too arrive, she heads to the bar, and there she meets a guy called Pete and they begin talking.  Luca has been called upon to become a bridesmaid by her best friend (the groom). This is because one of the bridesmaids is pregnant and has gone into labour, and her dress is roughly the same colour as the bridesmaids' dresses.  As Luca is walking down the aisle, she spots...not Pete, but her ex-boyfriend Tom, who is one of the best men. Not only does she see Tom but also the girl Tom had left her for...Cleo, who is also pregnant and is also a bridesmaid (turns out that not so very nice note she left on the car, was Toms' car). Tom had mistaken Cleo (as Cleo came dressed as cat woman which was supposed to be Luca costume) for Luca but her and Cleo description of one another were nothing alike.  Pete was really taking my liking throughout the story until the end. As the story progresses, we find out the Tom is not the father to the Cleo baby (and that him and Cleo are no longer together) as well as Pete being married and having a family of his own. There are also secrets that this group of friends having been keeping from each other from the time at university especially how Cleo ended up in Luca costume as well as everyone else having their own relationship problems.  During the story each chapter goes back and forth, from the wedding day to when they were all at university together, and the social life and all the friends hanging together.  It is clear in the chapter as to when the time in the story is taken place.  I mean I love a second chance romance book, so it was not shocking to me that Luca had decided to get back together with Tom but at the same time, I did question it as Tom was the reason, she had trust issue and yet she still forgave him.  I feel like Luca deserved to start a fresh and her seeing not one but 2 exes at the same wedding did not help her at all. And of course, a guy who she probably had feelings for lied straight to her face without a feeling of remorse.  I was smiling throughout different parts of the book; however I feel like she forgave Tom too quickly.

I liked the idea of the book, just wish it was a bit longer.

Karen, Daniella and Alison all have their own story. 

Alison relationship with Dave isn't going to well. She crosses paths with Daniella, turns out her landlord is an old friend of Alison. She finds out that Daniella has joined a bootcamp and has decided to join her, that's where they meet Karen. With Whitsborough Bay being small, Alison realised that she knew Karen, and the landlord Aiden (according to Alison was the one that got away). I felt for Alison, Dave was emotionally abusive, and he really annoyed me.  Knowing full well she wanted to go holiday, he books tickets to Ibiza, but instead has booked ticket to go with his friends rather than her, and he was being nice to her so she will be okay when he tells her, and once he told her, he went back to his old self again! She turns to Daniella for help. Coming back from Ibiza, Dave brought tons of presents as well as a proposal. However, Alison needed time. I could sense something was wrong especially since the time she got a voicemail which a girl voice in the background. He felt guilty for everything and was hoping Alison wouldn't find out.  She managed to get access (from a girlfriend of one of Dave friend) to the photos on social media, and with Aiden by her side they were looking at the photos and that where they spotted something in the background in one of the pictures.

Karen fiancé Ryan didn't seem very understanding or supportive of what Karen wanted to do (running her bootcamp), or wanting to spend time with Karen. Ryan is spending a lot of time with Steph (Steph has a girlfriend). She has a new client (Jay) who she is training. Turns out Karen got a stalker, who keeps sending her pictures and texts especially when she is with Jay. Turns out Ryan wasn't so innocent. The stalker had sent a video of a threesome, of, Ryan and with two other girls. The stalker...Jay fiancé (well ex-fiance) Sophie. Even though the stalking began from before Jay and Karen met. The moment Jay was introduced and they way he spoke about Sophie I was surprised but I wasn't at the same time. What shocked me though was who Sophie's sister was. Maya! Steph ex-girlfriend. The reason Sophie did this...she was jealous of Karen life.

Daniella has a secret of her own that she is trying very hard to hide. With Dave in Ibiza, Alison is trying to get a hold of Daniella, however is unable to do so, with the help of Aiden, she goes into the flat. They found Daniella collapsed on the bathroom floor; she said that she had a panic attack. We soon learn Daniella has bulimia. Daniella is married to Ethan, her secret...she killed her daughter. On the way home from a party, Daniella was wanting chocolate, as her daughter was asleep, she left her in the car to get some from the shop and when her daughter woke up, she left the car as Daniella hadn't locked the car door and was hit by the postal van. When I tell you I was shocked by this revelation of secret. She had child locks, but her step-sister made her took it off so she can use it for the airport. Ethan blames her for the death after Daniella consistency of pushing him of finding out on who to blame for the death. In the end she finds peace as well reconnecting with Ethan.

I am glad each of them got her HEA. Each of the characters had a story and their stories brought them together. 

  Clare hasn't been home to Ireland since the age of 16. She is living her life, and so far, it has been going great! However, one night her boss calls asking her to go to Ireland and now she has no choice to go, even though she has vowed never to go back. Whilst she is there, she goes back to her home village, and we learn more about her past and why she is the way she is. I would recommend reading the books in order as each book is about the different friends. And following each friends' lives. Jessica Redland does great with the development of each character as well as reminding us about each character and their relationship to the main character.  During the story we find out the secret that Clare's father was hiding from her. We learn that she was pregnant at a young age and out of wed lock. Clare's father and great-aunt put the child up for adoption, however told Clare that her baby had died. So, at the age of 16 she was kicked out of her family home.  During her research on finding her daughter, Clare finds out that the father of her child has sadly died. Whilst she's in her hometown, her older sister Aislynn found out that she's back and both sisters decide to get some answers about the past by visiting the Father of the Church.   With the help of her friend Ben, she finds her daughter, Shannon, however, finds out that her Shannon thought that Clare didn't want anything to do with her. Towards the end of the story, we learn that it wasn't Shannon's dad that had died but someone else who had matched the description. Clare also finds out that he was married and has 3 children of his own. She also learns about a secret that her parents having been hiding from during her dad funeral.   She is slowly growing her relationship with her Shannon as well the little family that she is growing.  I really enjoyed this story, a story about family, forgiveness and making relationships as well as mending friendship. Clare is also learning to accept her past for her to move on to her future. I was also kind of hoping to see her Shannon reaction to meeting her father for the first time.

I wasn't too big a fan of Lesley mum but her reasoning for wanting Lesley to live in the city made sense (Lesley mum had put her dreams on hold and wanted to live her dreams through her daughter)

The ending was amazing. Getting to see the future P.O.V of Lesley and Jamal descendants.

Maggie Patel has been assigned to write an article about the Royal Family visit to New York. She is not a big fan of the royal family because of the history she has with them.  Because of a certain situation that has happened Prince Edward was unable to do interview, however after talking to his family he decided to the interview, that is if Maggie is the one to hold the interview.  Having being pulled back on his responsibilities by the King because of Maggie's article, he is now responsible for planning and helping out with anything related to the Ruby Jubilee.  With both sides past coming up along the way, sparks slowly start to develop as well as family secrets.  

Absolutely loved this book! After being rejected by her boyfriend to marry her Lucie accidentally puts chillie powder in  a tiramusu which happens to be an order for food critic Ed. And ends up losing her job. She decides to open a travelling cupcake business where she bumps into Ed again and they start talking. Alex then suddenly reappears and Lucie need to make a decision between Ed and Alex. text

Dani is single, after finding out that her boyfriend/boss has been cheating on her. However, she is still working for him and still has to see his face whenever she is in the office. She has also (starting from the new year) been demoted.  Dani is slightly annoyed as Tom (her ex) didn't mention that management are wanting to branch out their offices around Yorkshire (where she is from). She decides to befriend a member of the management team, Rex, so she can get a job in one of the offices, however he also wants something from her...pretend to be his girlfriend to make another member of staff, Madeline, jealous. Once he got Madeline attention, he realises that he doesn't like her.  She arrives home for the holidays, hoping to surprise her parents, however she's in for a surprise as she finds out her parents are celebrating Christmas in France. As Dani begins to settle back down in her hometown, telling the truth is not as easy as it seems, so instead she has invited the town for Christmas party, and slowly, everything she left behind when she left for London, slowly comes back to her. Her crush/best friend Ben is also home for holidays, and Dani is hoping that they can continue from where they left off. However, she soon realises that she doesn't have feelings for Ben anymore, and as she talks to Rex more and more, she realises that she likes him and learns that the feeling is mutual. I mean don't get me wrong, it would have been cute for her and Ben to get together as he admits he had a crush on her, but I enjoyed seeing her relationship develop with Rex and how they interacted with one another. They were definitely made to be together.

This gave me hallmark movie vibes. 

Really enjoyed this book. Would of preferred if it was a bit longer. 

A continuation from Defend the Dawn, Tess thinking Corrick and Lockland are both dead, and Corrick and Lockland trying to survive as they have been captured on another island. Harristan is needing help as he has been dethroned, and has got the offer from his personal guards to help him. The rebels find out about his health and Harristan has the rebels on his side. 

Lochlan and Corrick have been assigned to kill the head of the docks (a person called Ford), by Oren Krane, however when he finds Ford he reveals his true identity that he is Prince Corrick. Him lying to Oren and then revealing his true identity, and that he is not Wes so that he can rescue Tessa was everything!

Tessa finds help in someone that she least expected...Rian, and she soon learns that the Moonflower that they have been using for medicine is poison. Rian still annoyed me, but I was quite surprised when he revealed the truth about the Moonflower.

I loved that Harriston true feeling came out for the Place Master. Was it unexpected? Yes, but it was really nice to see him have his HEA after everything he has been through . Corrick learns that Lochlan can't read and whilst they are together trying to get back to Tessa, Corrick teaches Lochlan how to read, which I found really sweet. The development of the relationship of enemies to friends between Corrick and Lochlan was something that I loved listening to. They both get used as bait to rescue Oren daughter (who is dead), and Corrick realises its Tessa being used as a decoy for Oren daughter. Harriston giving himself in so Corrick can return safe was super sweet, from his side he was returning the favour for all the time Corrick has saved him and been there for him. But on the day of the return, Harriston and the Palace Guard set the palace on fire which shocked me, but knowing the reasoning behind it made sense. With the return of Corrick, he is now crowned king and fulfilling his duties with Tessa by his side. 

That ending threw me right off! Tessa receives a letter from someone named Sullivan (Harriston code name from when he used to sneak out the palace with his brother as a child) about a horse that she wants. My gosh! I was actually speechless, I was so upset that he never got to tell Corrick, but it seems like Corrick already knew.

The different types of emotions I was going through happiness, sadness, shock, horror, and of course ending the book in laughter. 

I was laughing and smiling at how fate kept bringing them together...all because she burnt some cookies. The ending was a bit spicy for me.

I was so happy when Polly left her fiance Chris at the alter, she didn't even know she was planning her own wedding as all the wedding planning was done by Chris sister, so when Polly realised it was her own, she left him (she already had plans to leave him). Thankfully she had majority of her stuff packed and ready and took everything with her. Chris has children from a previous relationship, I was not a fan of his daughter or his sister, who were pretty stuck up. And on top of that she is not enjoying her job. She has been writing a story about a character called Sabrina Anderson, who is a bolder, stronger version of herself. As she trying to find a new place to live, she get mugged and knocked unconscious and has forgotten about most things.

The second part of the story is of her life but under the character she has been writing about; Sabrina. Whilst at the hospital she meets Marielle who offers her to stay with until she gets better as well as to help her remember things. Marrielle son Teddy runs a restaurant, where Polly ends up working and wanting to help grow their business as they are facing closure as a rival restaurant moves next door; the name sounds familiar to Sabrina (Polly) but she cant seem to remember why. As the story progressed she started to remember parts of her life. I loved seeing her live her life as Sabrina, as she got experience life in a whole new way. Chris and his son (Will), are trying to find Polly (Sabrina) and put an advert out on the local newspaper. 

Will was a good one, he wasn't anything like his sister. I mean don't get me wrong, I loved that she found herself and when she went back with Chris and Will my heart broke for Teddy. The rival restaurant that sounded familiar turns out are part of the business the Polly works for. I am so glad that Will has some sort of common sense and knows what his dad is like and told Polly the truth about the day of her disappearance. During the board meeting, Polly was recording all the stuff the rival restaurant had done, especially to Teddy restaurant. I absolutely loved Polly for doing this! And the best bit she left Chris!

  She is finally living her happiest ever after as Sabrina.  

  Prince Henry has been signed up for a special edition...or shall I say Royal Edition of Matched. A TV series for him to find his Queen for when he becomes King.  Before filming starts, he meets Sarah, who is only there as her sister Penelope is a contestant on this dating show, their mum only allowed Penelope to go if Sarah was there to keep Penelope from doing anything that she'll regret.  During the filming Henry gets to know the contestants a bit better, however behind the scenes his spending time with Sarah! Learning more and more about her, especially her past. He also find outs there's another reason as to why she is there...and that is to avoid a big work presentation.  All Prince Henry now needs do to is find his Queen! And he has found her.

OMG!!! 

I did not expect that! This book has been on my TBR for a while, and I'm so glad I read it. The ending just didn't sit well me...I need more!!! But everything else amazing the characters, the build up the story line. I was on the edge of my seat. My heart was racing as I read it. 

I need to know what happens next.

I really enjoyed the first book One of Us Is Lying so was really excited to read this! 

All in all, it's a good book. Did not expect the ending! But for some reason, I expected a bit more from the ending. 

It was a good a book, however, I had a love-hate relationship with the characters...mainly Phillip 

Phillip is in need of a wife and a mother to his children, Eloise wants to get married as she feels lonely ever since her best friend got married. But in all honesty he just wanted a mother to the children that he can't seem to control and doesn't know anything about (as he doesn't spend anytime with them). He barely knew his kids likes and dislikes before Eloise came. He also wasn't happy with his first wife, his first wife was depressed to the point where she was suicidal. He used that as an excuse to get Eloise to do what he wants as his first wife never wanted to do anything with him. 

The children were spoiled and bratty, always got away with things because Phillip was never around (always working), that was up until Eloise came and changed the family. 

A week before the wedding, Darla starts having doubts about her wedding and it doesn't help that her ex-Andy is back in town. Her grandmother Roxie gives her advice as well as talking about the bridal test. A test where the ex comes back before the big day to see where their true feeling is. I wasn't a big fan of Andy; he was basically spoilt boy who by seems of it couldn't take no for answer. I'm really happy the Darla got her happily ever after. 

OMG!!! 

The plot twists just kept coming! I actually couldn't put this book down

Libby moves to Italy with her husband Jake to start a new business, that is when she finds that he has been cheating on her and he walks out on the relationship. Now figuring out what to do, she calls upon her best friends, Libby, Eve, and Dex to come and support and help her. Dex thought it would be a good idea and invites Miles and Jimmy along to the trip. I just wish that something more could've happened between Libby and Dex!  This is worth a summer read! Six friends back together to run the Sunshine and Biscotti club, making new friends, finding new love, mending broken hearts as well as a whole lot of cooking!

Jeanie has been gifted the café by her aunt, one night she meets Logan; and not in the best way. She had a baseball bat ready as she thought Logan was an intruder. Logan however was there making a delivery which he likes to do early in the morning as it avoids communicating with the locals. 

Logan recommends that Jeanie goes to town hall meeting to make a noise complaint and she as asks Logan to go with her as so she can have a familiar face. Whilst at the meeting she believes that the café is being haunted which Logan thinks is absurd but with the persuasion of the town hall and his nan he decides to help Jeanie do a stakeout to find out what was making the noise. It was a cat! When the cat walked in , I couldn't help but smile.

It seems like someone or something is out to get her. Her friend Annie thinks it might be Mac as he has previously wanted to bar the café to expand his bar. Didn't really surprise that it was Norman, from the moment he met Jeanie he didn't seem to happy with her being the new owner of the café, I thought it was because of the crush he had on Jeanie aunt in hopes she would come back from her holiday. But it was also because her aunt wouldn't sell the café to him. 

I must say loved the names of the animals. Harry Styles the Alpaca, Bob Marley and Bob Dylan the Goats and Taylor, Rihanna, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Britney and Selena the Chickens. 

I really felt for Logan as he has abandonment issues, so he doesn't like getting close to people in fear of them leaving. But I was really glad that he got his HEA. It also worked out well for Norman and Jeanie's aunt. As when she came back, they both realised they had feelings for one another 

We also see the start of a brand new relationship; Hazel and Noah; who just keeps ordering books to use as an excuse to see her, which I can't wait to read!

This book was an amazing read! 

I kind of figured the two of the characters were related the more I read on! 

But all in all, it was a really good read. 

It has always been Emily dream to open up a café one day, and now that she been fired by her boss a.k.a. her fiancé (Peter). She doesn't seem too happy with the life she is living; her fiancé seems stuck up. Emily doesn't tell Peter about her dream of opening a café one day, however, when she does, he doesn't seem very supportive. I mean you've just fired her...let her live her dream. 

Her best friend Kate signs her and Emily up for the local running club and that where Emily meets Ludek; because she fell in front of a café that was up for sale. Unlike most of the books I've read (where it takes the main character almost half the book to realise their partner is not the one for them) I'm glad Emily broke of her engagement with Peter within the first few chapters. 

Opening a café isn't as is as it seems, the first week didn't go as well as Emily hoped. She bumps into Ludek (who is a doctor) again as she was struggling to take of her engagement ring and of course he helped her take it off. He then invites her to board game event that happens every Friday at their local pub. 

Peter is back...yes that's right. Peter. He heard about the café and wanted to help Emily with the business. A few days later, Ludek needs a favour, the pub that usually host them for the board games night on a Friday are unable to host them, so he asks Emily. And of course, she says yes! And as luck would have every Friday night. 

She decides to go to a pastry making class. It was kind of useless for Emily as she already knew the basics on pastry making, and on her way back home from London, on the train, there were children at the same table as her, as Emily was thinking about new ideas to bring customers to the café one of the children asked to play board games, however the dad complained that there was no counters to play the games with so Emily decided to make some counters and play with them. And that's when it hit her, yes it finally hit her. She should run a board game café!

As soon as things were looking up, it was falling back down again. Emily café was about to demolished by the local council to set up new housing. Her old boss called to see if she wanted to have her job back (the job she had before she met Peter) and she said yes. With her rival café also being for sale (because of a new Costa coffee opening), with the help of her dad, she was able to buy her rival café.

Emily finally made her childhood dream come true, with the help of her family and friends (old and new). And of course all of the characters got there happily ever afters!

 Alice and Daisy have been sent to live to with their estranged grandmother after the death of the mother (Scarlet). The grandmother, thinks its Vince (Scarlet ex-husband). She never really was a fan of Vince. 

Vince is living with his current partner; Leah and their daughter Saph. I absolutely hated Leah from the moment she was introduced. You could tell she was jealous just by her behaviour and her saying he never spends time with her and Saph when he goes to spend time with Alice and Daisy. And as well she is wanting Vince to blackmail the grandmother so she (Leah) can get a dog.  Leah supported Vince alibi, telling police that he was with her, however we soon learn that they both were not together, and that Leah hadn't been answering any of Vince of calls the night of Scarlet death. 

Daisy admits to killing her mum to her grandmother. However, I suspected otherwise, she was young carer for her mum, but I had an in depth feeling that it wasn't her. She is blaming herself as she got her mother to take her sleeping pill the night of her death (just like she does every night). I felt for her when she was blaming herself. Turns out the grandmother was hiding the secret of her own, she is not their grandmother, she stole the original Yvonne's identity. I had bad vibes about her from the moment the girls were introduced to her, and playing with the girls emotions. She really annoyed as the story went on.

OMG!! And to learn that Saph wasn't his was what got to me. He stayed with Leah for Saph and to learn she wasn't his, my gosh made me hate her even more. I was so happy that Vince was changing for the better, especially for the girls. 

It was the grandmother (the fake one) killed the original Yvonne. She did give me bad vibes but I didn't expect her I was thinking it was either Leah or her ex-partner. And turns out my in depth feeling about Daisy was wrong (she did kill her mum).  We also learn at the end the original Yvonne killed her husband Charles,  and the fake one has now been arrested with no one believing that she is not Yvonne as the person who took her to court is the mother of the social worker, so Yvonne has no documents to prove her real identity.

The fact that the author told us who the killer was at the beginning but still left it going till the end. As it turns out the even though she gave her mum the sleeping pills she didn't fully tell the what happened that night, other then the fact that she was holding a pillow when her dad came to see them. And then of course the ending finding out the social worker (Holly) was Charles daughter (Holly mum had an affair with Charles).