A SECRET GIFT by Amanda James Joy Pentire is working at a Care Home in Cornwall, three years after her husband Sean died young. She lives alone with heA SECRET GIFT by Amanda James Joy Pentire is working at a Care Home in Cornwall, three years after her husband Sean died young. She lives alone with her cat Sebastian and although she loves working with the residents, her life is not as happy or as fulfilling as she would like it to be. But somehow she seems to feel powerless to change it. Then, one day, one of the elderly residents, Hope, passes on a secret gift – one which will change Joy’s life in all sorts of ways… I absolutely loved this book. I hadn’t read any of Amanda James’s novels before, but have since bought another one. In A Secret Gift, she weaves a tale which has so much goodness in it, so much heart and warmth, it is a real feel-good story. There are some excellent elderly characters in it too, which was a nice touch. The novel is uplifting and magical. In places, it seems like a modern-day fairytale, though in the best possible sense. I found the story unusual and original and the characters are believable and wonderful. Who knows, there may even be a Prince Charming in the pages too… 9 out of 10
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A SECRET GIFT by Amanda James Joy Pentire is working at a Care Home in Cornwall, three years after her husband Sean died young. She lives alone with her cat Sebastian and although she loves working with the residents, her life is not as happy or as fulfilling as she would like it to be. But somehow she seems to feel powerless to change it. Then, one day, one of the elderly residents, Hope, passes on a secret gift – one which will change Joy’s life in all sorts of ways… I absolutely loved this book. I hadn’t read any of Amanda James’s novels before, but have since bought another one. In A Secret Gift, she weaves a tale which has so much goodness in it, so much heart and warmth, it is a real feel-good story. There are some excellent elderly characters in it too, which was a nice touch. The novel is uplifting and magical. In places, it seems like a modern-day fairytale, though in the best possible sense. I found the story unusual and original and the characters are believable and wonderful. Who knows, there may even be a Prince Charming in the pages too… 9 out of 10...more
Really enjoyed Rylan's book and learnt a lot about him that I didn't know. The abuse he received was very unfair and although he may not have been theReally enjoyed Rylan's book and learnt a lot about him that I didn't know. The abuse he received was very unfair and although he may not have been the best singer on The X-Factor, he is a hugely talented TV presenter and comes across as an intelligent, thoughtful man who really deserves credit for working hard and doing really well. A nice easy read, well written. 8.5 out of 10
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Really enjoyed Rylan's book and learnt a lot about him that I didn't know. The abuse he received was very unfair and although he may not have been the best singer on The X-Factor, he is a hugely talented TV presenter and comes across as an intelligent, thoughtful man who really deserves credit for working hard and doing really well. A nice easy read, well written. 8.5 out of 10...more
After Zoey Butler loses her job at Future State Energy in Colorado, USA and fails to find another job in the same sector, she contacts FBI Special AgeAfter Zoey Butler loses her job at Future State Energy in Colorado, USA and fails to find another job in the same sector, she contacts FBI Special Agent Alexis Thompson to see if she can help her find a new job. Alexis works in Riverbend K-9 Academy in Indiana with her dog Waffle and she finds Zoey a place there, working with the adorable canine Tasha. But as she begins to settle down in Riverbend and enjoying her new job, something happens with her old employers – Future State. She offers to help the FBI by returning to her old company and seeing if she can find out what’s happening. This time, fellow dog handler Liam is going to accompany her. The book has everything – drama, mystery, industrial espionage and romance. I loved the characters especially Zoey, Liam and Alexis. I also really enjoyed the dogs featured in the book and they were the reason I fancied reading it initially. The story is well-paced, held my interest throughout and kept me turning the pages. This is the first in the series and I would definitely be interested in reading the future books. 8 out of 10
Merged review:
After Zoey Butler loses her job at Future State Energy in Colorado, USA and fails to find another job in the same sector, she contacts FBI Special Agent Alexis Thompson to see if she can help her find a new job. Alexis works in Riverbend K-9 Academy in Indiana with her dog Waffle and she finds Zoey a place there, working with the adorable canine Tasha. But as she begins to settle down in Riverbend and enjoying her new job, something happens with her old employers – Future State. She offers to help the FBI by returning to her old company and seeing if she can find out what’s happening. This time, fellow dog handler Liam is going to accompany her. The book has everything – drama, mystery, industrial espionage and romance. I loved the characters especially Zoey, Liam and Alexis. I also really enjoyed the dogs featured in the book and they were the reason I fancied reading it initially. The story is well-paced, held my interest throughout and kept me turning the pages. This is the first in the series and I would definitely be interested in reading the future books. 8 out of 10...more
An Escape to Remember by T. A. Williams MY REVIEW Back home early from ten weeks in Antigua on business, 32-year-old Louise Rhodes finds her partner TomAn Escape to Remember by T. A. Williams MY REVIEW Back home early from ten weeks in Antigua on business, 32-year-old Louise Rhodes finds her partner Tommy in bed with another woman. After moving her things back to her parents’ house, she gets a phonecall from her boss Joseph who asks her to go to Italy for some months to sort out a hotel there, which needs some revamping. She flies to Turin then is driven to the Grand Hotel del Monferrato by the elderly Luigino in an old Rolls Royce. She meets the rest of the staff, most of them being in their sixties including Domenica Albese, the assistant manager. The staff soon prove themselves more than capable though and Louise sets about organising improvements to the parts of the hotel that need it, including the drainage system and some of the décor. In the middle of all the work, Louise has a few men in her life to sort out. There’s Tommy her recent ex, Paolo (her old flame), Joseph her boss and the enigmatic Vito (who was due to inherit the hotel, but instead became a professor at Turin University). She has sworn off men, but will romance make its way back into her life anyway? I loved the writing style of this book and all the wonderful characters, especially the hotel staff and the gorgeous dog! I was surprised to discover the author was a man, as it’s quite rare for this genre, but he writes romance beautifully – and it is romance, exactly as I like it. I’m not one who wants to read about “bedroom antics” in great detail, but this book is perfectly pitched. I got into the book straight away and wanted to know what would happen to Louise. The setting is authentic and evocative and I enjoyed walking round the hotel’s estate and surroundings with Louise. Vito’s cottage is lovely too, I could picture it all so clearly. And who doesn’t need a virtual trip to an idyllic part of Italy right now? The characters come across as very real because no-one is perfect and they all have issues and baggage. I’m not interested in reading about perfect characters, because we know that isn’t real. I want them to have flaws and idiosyncrasies and quirks, or how can we believe in them? T A Williams gets this right too. A delightful book and I will be happy to read more of his novels. 9 out of 10
Merged review:
An Escape to Remember by T. A. Williams MY REVIEW Back home early from ten weeks in Antigua on business, 32-year-old Louise Rhodes finds her partner Tommy in bed with another woman. After moving her things back to her parents’ house, she gets a phonecall from her boss Joseph who asks her to go to Italy for some months to sort out a hotel there, which needs some revamping. She flies to Turin then is driven to the Grand Hotel del Monferrato by the elderly Luigino in an old Rolls Royce. She meets the rest of the staff, most of them being in their sixties including Domenica Albese, the assistant manager. The staff soon prove themselves more than capable though and Louise sets about organising improvements to the parts of the hotel that need it, including the drainage system and some of the décor. In the middle of all the work, Louise has a few men in her life to sort out. There’s Tommy her recent ex, Paolo (her old flame), Joseph her boss and the enigmatic Vito (who was due to inherit the hotel, but instead became a professor at Turin University). She has sworn off men, but will romance make its way back into her life anyway? I loved the writing style of this book and all the wonderful characters, especially the hotel staff and the gorgeous dog! I was surprised to discover the author was a man, as it’s quite rare for this genre, but he writes romance beautifully – and it is romance, exactly as I like it. I’m not one who wants to read about “bedroom antics” in great detail, but this book is perfectly pitched. I got into the book straight away and wanted to know what would happen to Louise. The setting is authentic and evocative and I enjoyed walking round the hotel’s estate and surroundings with Louise. Vito’s cottage is lovely too, I could picture it all so clearly. And who doesn’t need a virtual trip to an idyllic part of Italy right now? The characters come across as very real because no-one is perfect and they all have issues and baggage. I’m not interested in reading about perfect characters, because we know that isn’t real. I want them to have flaws and idiosyncrasies and quirks, or how can we believe in them? T A Williams gets this right too. A delightful book and I will be happy to read more of his novels. 9 out of 10...more
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