Mahjabeen
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.
Tara is owner of a successful café The Chocolate Pot Café. However, she doesn't show what's happening behind the scenes. She has a lifetime of secrets that no one knows about, and she doesn't want to share with anyone. She learnt that is easier if you don't let any one in. Her best friend Carly from Carly's Cupcake can sense something is wrong, she doesn't pressure Tara into revealing anything unless she is ready. Tara, however, doesn't want to let anyone in as she fears getting hurt...again. Tara lost her dad at a young age and her mother was unfit to take care of her. Moving around different foster homes didn't make it any easier for Tara. However, when her birth mum died a change happened. Something happened between her and her foster sister Leigh-Anne. We soon learn the Leigh-Anne had broken her trust as well as Tara now ex-husband Garth. With her past coming back, Tara realises it might be best to open up. We find out about the trauma she lived through whilst growing up with her foster family and her marriage. The shop opposite has been bought by someone who Tara isn't too fond of...Jed Ferguson. Jed had sold the café to Tara; however, he made an enemy out of Tara during the sale of the café. She soon realises Jed wasn't the enemy. Alongside her café, Tara also runs an Etsy shop selling crocheted items. She emails asking from someone asking if they can sell her crocheted items in their store which she agrees to as well as a meeting. As soon as she realises it Jed new business, she cancels the meeting she had with him. Tara with the help of her friends decides to reconnect with her foster family & learning how to accept her past. When she finally talks to Jed about her business, she finds out about Jed's history. Jed and Tara enemies to lovers. I would love to read about what happened next with Jed and Tara
Carly has a successful business running Carly Cupcake on Whitsborough Bay. Learning that her childhood best friend/crush, Liam and his girlfriend are moving in together. Carly decides to stop gushing over Liam and move on. Alongside moving on, Carly's sister Bethany, is working alongside Carly, but unlike Carly, she's not the best cake decorators, but has got amazing customer service skills. Carly is trying her best to show Bethany there are many positives in life. One of which is Bethany getting married. However, Bethany is always looking at the negatives in life. We soon learn that Liam is single and will be back in Whitsborough Bay for Christmas. As Christmas is coming so is the day of Bethany and Joshua big day. But Bethany walks out (not only from her relationship but also the family) because she feels useless with everything she does. Every time Liam and Carly have a moment, something comes up. Stories from the past, with the help of Liam, they found Bethany. Bethany opens up and talks about having panic attacks because of something happening that happened at previous job. Carly, unfortunately not talk about her feelings towards Liam as she always feared the worst; what if the feeling were not reciprocated, will they still be friends if it wasn't? We find out that the Liam had has feeling towards Carly, but like Carly he also feared the worst and therefore left to join the army. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. Favourite Quotes: “...as though we were two jigsaw pieces that had been designed to fit together and had finally been united.” “...we were beginning to think we'd have to bang your heads together.” “...he'll be gutted that he lost the bet and I get to choose the next 5 Netflix films. I feel a serious dose of rom-coms coming on.”
Another great story of Whitsborough Bay! After Charlee mum walked out on her and losing the two people who raised her (her nan and granddad) she decides to move to Whitsborough Bay to open a chocolate shop. Her boyfriend Ricky let's say isn't the best of boyfriend. Ricky had to find work in Whitsborough Bay as he couldn't find any work in the area that he and Charlee were living in. Charlee decides to move to Whitsbourogh Bay as her arch enemy (her boss's daughter) is now the manager of the Chocolate shop. I was glad she stood up to Gabby (boss's daughter). You could see Gabby wasn't too happy about Charlee leaving and yet she still acted like a cow towards her. We later find out that it was because Charlee and Gabby were half-sisters (as Charlee mum come back because of a letter that Charlee had sent). And obviously Gabby wasn't too happy about that. Ricky and Charlee are living together. Ricky is basically living rent free and not contributing too anything, Ricky was blaming his debt on not being able to pay towards anything. We then learn that Ricky had been sleeping with ex-girlfriend who is also his best friend's girlfriend. As her business is growing, with the help of her best friend Jodie she meets Matt a local plumber and his fiancé, Libby. We soon learn about Libby and Matt past and how they ended up together and learnt that they would be better off as friends. And Matt and Charlee relationship started.
Jemma and Scott have been together for about a year and half and Scott proposes to her on 28th birthday. Scott needs to leave early for work during Jemma birthday/engagement weekend. Scott said he needed to cover for his colleague Adam whose wife had gone into labour. Scott kept in contact with Jemma whilst they were apart however one day all communication stopped. With the help of her friend Drew, she realised that Scott had ghosted her as they couldn't find to history on his social media as well as being unable to email him. However, Jemma can't believe that Scott had dumped her. She soon finds out Scott isn't the person who he said he was and was catfished. Scott was Adam. Scott decided to come back to Jemma and ask for her forgiveness, promising that he will divorce his wife (and she forgave him). Sam thought he had found the one but later found out his girlfriend had been cheating on him. His older brother Jack sets Sam up on a blind date with one of their colleague Nikki. Nikki and Sam have started their life engaged, have got amazing careers and a home to call their own. But he is now alone as Nikki fell ill and passed. He couldn't be in a place which reminded of what he once had with Nikki and moved out of Whitsborough Bay and heads to London. Tiffany (Jemma roommate) asks Sam for help, as Jemma mum has been diagnosed for Parkinson as Sam specialism is in Parkinson. Sam has been hiding secrets about his life from his London colleague. Every time the opportunity arises something comes up. I was hoping he mentioned something about his life to Tiffany. However, Tiffany believes that Sam is engaged as when they met, he spoke about Nikki, but it kept me intrigued listening to both sides of stories and the reason why they're in London. Sam wanting to start a new life and Jemma for work, going back home every weekend. Sam had very strong feelings about Nikki, and you could sense it by the way he spoke about her and how hard it was for him to say that she had died. He was very much in love with her. Jemma decides to move back home as her mum not well. And the same weekend Sam decides to head back to Whitsborough Bay as well as he hasn't been home since he moved to London. I enjoyed the relationship they grew with one another and how they connected with one another. They were there for one another making each other laugh and smile. Learning about the past and growing a future. Favourite Quote: “It turned out lightning really did strike twice”
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.
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.
3.75 I enjoyed this, but it was an okay book. Emma is the eldest of five sisters. She is the only one that's single, her four younger sisters are married or about to be. This story not only followed Emma but also had other plot lines. Bridgit is about to get married to her fiancé, Paulo. Her best friend Cooper is back in town. Cooper has had a lifelong crush on Bridgit from the day the day they met, but never had the guts to say anything as Bridgit was in a committed relationship. Emma signs up for a compatibility test to be married at first sight (which is being run by Bridgit and Cooper). The guy at the other end of the aisle...Cooper. However, Emma is crushing on Cooper best friend and roommate, having met before the wedding night. As the storyline continued, towards the end, you could sense what was going to happen with their relationships. I really liked their relationship they had between their sisters. As I said the book was okay and I enjoyed it, but their storyline was a bit all over place, with the main plot as well as the sub plots. The sub plots being based around the sisters and their lives.
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.
Amy and Mel are best friends. Or at least Amy thought they were. Amy decided to come home to London to surprise her fiancee Jack however finds another woman belonging in their apartment. She soon finds out that it's her best friend Mel, who Jack is having the secret affair with. Throughout the book, Amy, with the help of her best friend Cat and her husband Greg, helps her in making Jack and Mel life a misery. Mel soon finds out that Amy has been in London for a while and plays her like a fiddle just like Amy was doing to her and Jack. However, Amy gets back at Mel....BIG TIME!! I enjoyed this book a lot. Amy playing Mel and Jack like a fiddle was probably the best part of the story!
It's the 90's and Carly Cooper single and looking for the one! But What If she let the one get away! With the new millennium round the corner, she's travelling the world (and getting herself into a huge credit card debt) to rekindle romance with the different ex fiances she walked out on, trying to find the one.But What If the one was right in front of her very eyes.
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!
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.
This audio book is from the perspective of someone who is dead, doing an interview about her life and her car that she needed to buy. During the process of her buying her car, when she was alive, she had asked her neighbour Hank to help her buy her car, instead of waiting for her husband to return from his holiday. Her relationship with Hank was never the best up until she needed a new car.
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
Absolutely loved this!
Gwen and Sam are prefect for each other.
They meet each other on the way from Boston to New York. He is used to the bus journey...she is not. With some detours along the way and some messages and calls from Sam mum (and a box of kitten), they find what they've been looking for.
This is Eliot story (Vera's brother) J.D. is someone who Eliot saved in his contacts, but he doesn't know who this J.D. person is and trying to figure out what her real name is as he saved her name with a different letters and number, usually changing the letters and numbers into a name. However, because he forgot to do so, he doesn't know who he is messaging. J.D. however is not wanting Eliot to find out her real identity. This book is a great laugh with the conversation that they are having and with Eliot not knowing who he is messaging. And I love the point system, Eliot needs to earn 200 points for J.D. to reveal herself. When Eliot finds out who J.D. really is and the reason behind the secrecy, I did not really like it as her brother did something to hurt him and he was okay with it. But it was sweet of him to tell her not to blame herself as it wasn't her who did anything wrong.I was a bit confused as the beginning as Vera was single but it made sense at the end. Towards the end I realised that Eliot and Vera both met their person around the same time.
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.
Vera has been waiting almost 3 hours for someone to answer from IT company due to some glitches on her website. Enter Cal Kantola who is basically her saviour to help her fix these glitches. She refuses to hang up the call as she waited too long as she needs to sort her website out before her big event at the end of the week. Her brother has been wanting to set her up with his best friend Freddy and Vera does not want to do so, however when Cal true identity is revealed, she wants to him. But she doesn't know how to say that she likes him as Vera thinks Cal (Freddie) is living with a girl, who turns out not to be his girlfriend. As the story goes on they each learn more and more about one another. I really enjoyed the conversation that was happening between the two. It was cute and sweet.
I thought I'd wait and finish all three parts before writing this reviews.
I absolutely loved this second chance romance series.
Hunter and Presley (having previously dated) are now assigned to work together, Hunter; for his TV programme and Presley to help her with her writing career.
This second chance romance is Hunter and Presley needing to work together, learn about a past love story and work on what's happening in the present as well as the future.