Book-Mad-Mum

  “Love In Provence” returns to the beautiful lavender fields of Provence where, once again we meet Del at harvest season – the busiest time of the year. As she looks forward to welcoming a new group of pickers from all over the world some bad news turns her world upside down. Then Del’s partner Fabien is given the chance to rejoin his old band for one last tour – and Del wants him to seize the day. But is sending him away the right decision? As the pickers arrive and the harvest gets underway, Del feels the mounting pressure of trying to keep everyone happy. Even her cooking – the thing she loves best – is suffering. Until the pickers, missing home and keen to find comfort through a home-cooked meal, share their recipes with her...and a supper club is born. Jo has a knack for creating heartwarming stories where she transports her readers to the picturesque fields of lavender and quaint village markets, making the sights, sounds, and smells of Provence almost tangible. "Lo...

  Lauren Kirkham is a high flyer, she is now living through an unplanned pregnancy -solo as her boyfriend has decided he does not want to be involved with the baby. Needing a break, she goes to visit her best friend Anna in Polkerran for a holiday. On the first day she bumps into local handyman Danie is who building his own house on the cliffs and his story is being followed by a “Grand Designs” type tv programme. When the tv company arrive to film, they are expecting a happy couple however Daniel has recently split up with his girlfriend and needs a fake live in one instead and so Lauren and Daniel join forces, but can you really fake love? I have to say before I picked up this book I was in a complete reading slump. Several books before hadn't grabbed me and it was really getting me down - this book proved to be my reading saviour!!! It reignited my reading mojo! Straight away Lauren and Anna and all the locals felt like friends of mine, I could completely relate to them, a...

Kate is all set to marry dental surgeon Norman and as the ultimate planner/control freak she has planned everything to a “T”! With her three best friends, they head off on the hen part in Vegas – and the planning and itinerary fly out the window, especially when on the first night, she bumps into her ex Trevor, who is now a successful DJ. After far too many drinks and blacking out, Kate wakes up the next morning to find that in her drunken stupor she ended up marrying Trevor! Now all her perfect plans for the wedding to Norman have flown out the wedding. Trevour has agreed to sign annulment papers if Kate agrees to go out on three last dates with him. With her fairy tale wedding hanging in the balance, Kate agrees to his plan but will it end in happy ever after? This book is absolutely hilarious!! I have often seen on Tik Tok and reading reviews of various books that people say "this was a real laugh out loud book for me!" but I've never experienced that until now!! I...

    Amelia is found on a remote beach by fishermen and her heart has stopped.   Her sister Lexi who works in publishing in New York   returns home to be at her sisters bedside. Amelia, however starts remembering her “husband Sam” and tells of their perfect love story. Except none of these things ever happened, and Lexi is certain that Amelia hasn’t even met this guy. Hoping to help her sister recover, Lexi goes about recreating the false memories of her sister by taking photos with local vet Nick who looks exactly like Sam.   While out on the “dates” Lexi finds herself falling for Nick, but can she fall in love with her sisters “husband” without breaking her heart. Once I got into this story - I really enjoyed it, however it did feel like I'd read something similar before, but it was very enjoyable and I found myself turning the pages faster and faster as the story progressed.        

          My Sisters Baby written by Louise Guy and published by Boldwood Books     Sisters Liv and Toni were once inseparable. While their parents focused on Mandy, their little sister with special needs, the two older sisters leaned on each other for love, support and security. When they were in their teens, and Liv needed a lifesaving operation, it was Toni who stepped up to the plate and helped her. As they grew up, their lives took different paths. They live in different cities and rarely see each other. But now it’s Toni who needs help from Liv. Because she’s desperate for a baby… When Liv finds herself in a situation where she could help Toni fulfil her dream, she wants more than anything to say yes. But Liv is keeping a dark secret. And she can’t help but wonder – is giving a baby to her sister the right thing to do… or will it destroy their family forever? I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but very quic...

  Opera singer Maria Callas known as “ la divina” with her fabulous voice was born with note only a gift of singing, but also the drama and beauty needed to succeed on the worldwide operatic stages. Sadly, liked a bird in a gilded cage, Maria’s life is lonely, and although surrounded by people and her husband she feels isolated. When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she's found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. And then, suddenly, it's over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces. This is a fictional account based on true events, think of The...

        When the story starts, we meet six year old Flora who lives in poverty with her evil Aunt and Uncle. To scratch a living, they use little Flora as a pickpocket. One day in London, they chance upon the wealthy Stewart family with their daughter Arabella who is a similar age to Flora. A deal is struck and the Stewarts agree to take on Flora as a companion for Arabella.   Living the life of a lady and gaining an education we are introduced to a varied cast of characters as life for Flora takes a few twists and turns.   I have read a few Dilly Court books previously and this one was another enjoyable read leaving you wondering where the story was going to take you next. Thoroughly enjoyable.