Maddy's Book Blog

  Over the Sea to Skye: The Skye Sisters Trilogy. Book 3 by Sue Moorcroft   Reading this book was like sinking into the embrace of a well-worn armchair, the kind that knows your shape and welcomes you back every time. It’s like walking into a room full of people you know well, but haven’t seen for a while, and your heart sings. This is a gorgeous series and I’m sad it’s just a trilogy.   When Valentina’s husband left her, for her assistant – a good 20 years younger than him, Valentina was devastated – not least for her seven-year-old son Barnaby who missed his Dad when he disappeared without trace. Valentina took Barnaby to her summer cottage on the Isle of Skye to be near her two sisters and for some morale support. When her husband finally gets in touch and wants to meet up, he doesn’t turn up. What has happened? Added to that Valentina plays good Samaritan to Xander and his nephew McDonald at the station when they are stranded, and gives them a lift. From then ...

  Sunshine after the Rain by Jessica Redland   Reading a Jessica Redland novel is like sinking into a warm bubble bath.   You feel enveloped and cozy, and time just disappears. This story made me cry, and made me smile in equal measure, and I was sad when it finished.   Melanie’s world imploded when her beloved son Noah died. He was only 18, with the world ahead of him, and she blamed herself for not noticing the recent anomalies in his life. Angry at herself, and the world, Mel left her beloved Flynn behind, and moved away, divorced and tried to move on with her life. Many years later, the pull of her family became too much and after a family visit Mel decides to move back home – but what will happen when she sees Flynn?   A brilliant sequel to the ‘Escape to the Lakes’ series. I loved every minute of this story, and it was wonderful meeting ‘old friends ‘again such as Emma and her Alpacas. A fabulous story that would work as a stand-alone book or p...

  The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies Dinah Jefferies is a master storyteller. She has taken me all around the world, and her latest creation takes you to Corfu in Greece. He characters are always beautifully crafted, and you can almost small the sea when she describes the scenery. Thirza’s life is wonderful. She spends much of her time in Greece either at her family home in Corfu, or up the coast in her mother’s summer house ‘Merchant’s House’ which is on the coast. She lives with her parents Dulcie and Piers, her beloved younger brother Billy, and her mother’s cousin Columbine and Columbine’s daughter. When the Italian’s invade the island, and Billy is left in the care of Columbine, and Thirza, Billy disappears, and Dulcie and Thirza are heartbroken and return to the UK. Piers, who works in Corfu, spends time on the Island in their Corfu house. Meanwhile the Merchant House is empty and becomes extremely rundown. Now an adult, Thirza and her cousin return to Merchant House to r...

  The Stand-in Dad by Alex Summers This was an absolutely charming story. The characters are extremely relatable, and believable, and the situation is one everyone has heard before – both within straight and LGBTQ families. The LGBTQ slant just gives another layer of interest to this delightful story   Meg has recently become engaged to her girlfriend Hannah, so why is she crying her eyes out outside the florist? Her parents aren’t happy about the union and haven’t turned up to help chose the flowers for the wedding. Enter David, the florist, who knows all too well what happens when your parents don’t approve of your partner – or your lifestyle, and he vows to help Meg in any way he can. David offers to be her stand in Dad and helps her to organise the wedding – at the same time as setting up a network of LGBTQ tradespeople who can also help each other and boost their wedding sales. David has a secret you see, his florist isn’t doing too well, and if things don’t improve, ...

  The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey   I have read one of Kate Storey’s books previously so I was looking out for more, and this one didn’t disappoint. Dealing with such difficult subjects as bereavement, ADHD, unemployment and depression, this book manages to skilfully and sensitively handle the topics whilst producing a fun, interesting and heartwarming novel.   Grace’s beloved husband passed away and Grace was struggling. Grace knew that he loved his fortnightly book club, but Grace had never gone as she wasn’t really a reader. When her Grandson Jude persuades her to go along, she was very surprised to see that there weren’t that many members, and that the evening was spent with them all reading their own books, silently. Grace can’t cope with the solitude and quiet, and runs, vowing to never return. Annie from the book club persuades her to return, and slowly with the help of her new book club friends, and her family, she reconnects with her late husband i...

  What If I  Never Get Over You by Paige Toon What a gorgeous story! For those that believe in love at first sight, or even for those that don’t, this is an intense love story of love, loss, love again and so forth. I have read a Paige Toon book previously so I was really looking forward to this, and it didn’t disappoint. Ellie has a difficult relationship with her family, and has been pressurised into going into the family business. She commits a minor act of rebellion and goes interrailing, and meets Ash. Three days in Spain is enough for them to fall in love. Before meeting Ash, Ellie had agreed to go home with her parents, but they make a plan to meet up again in Madrid the following week. Ellie is late, and Ash is no where to be seen. Unfortunately, Ellie has no way of contacting him, having never even asked for his surname. Ash also doesn’t contact her and Ellie spends the next 6 years trying to get over him. Ellie finds the strength to pursue her dream career and ends...

  Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett I have read several books with a similar storyline, but this is so well written that I was totally involved with the characters and their lives. Whilst there was no doubt how things would end up, getting there was a real treat. Anya thought she was living the perfect life – with her handsome husband, beautiful daughter and wonderful house and no lack of money. Only when her husband dies does Anya find out the truth – her perfect life was a house of cards, and build on lies and fraud. Anya has no choice but to move to Halfmoon Quay, where her family give her accommodation for her and her daughter. When she bumps into her old friend Rick, and he organises a job for her at his uncle’s hotel life seems to be finally looking up for Anya. But is Rick just being friendly or does he have an ulterior motive? A lovely story, with believable characters, and all of whom became like friends, and who I missed when the book was finished. I am hoping for...