Review - My Husband the Stranger by Rebecca Done

My Husband the Stranger by Rebecca Done was a book that had been sat on my shelf for an awful long time before I finally picked it up. Despite not being a particularly upbeat read, this was a novel that touched me in a way that I honestly did not expect in the slightest. From beginning to end I found it to be such a beautiful and sensitively written novel that captured the true meaning behind how extremely possible it is to find love in the face of adversity. 

Within this novel we are introduced to Alex and Molly who first meet whilst on a night out in London. With it being love at first sight, it’s not long before they marry eachother with a life of hope and a long and happy future ahead of them. That is until one fateful night when Alex has a terrible accident, which leaves Alex with brain damage. Having promised to love Alex in sickness and in health, as he becomes unrecognisable before her eyes Molly’s resolve is soon tested. Can she learn to love the man who Alex has become?

With each chapter being told from the perspective of a different character and alternating between the past and the present, I felt that I really got to know Alex and Molly as individuals and became really engrossed in their story extremely quickly. I felt a huge amount of admiration for Molly’s character and as the book progressed there were many times when I felt like I was walking in her shoes, thanks to the fantastic way in which Rebecca really captured her emotions. Throughout the entirety of the book, I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do if I was in Molly’s position. 

My Husband the Stranger is not your standard love story but is instead one that has a real substance and depth to it. Despite not being a particularly fast-paced read, I thought that it was an incredibly well written book that really reflected how life can feel when faced with a challenging situation, how there’s no easy way out or quick solution. To write a book such as My Husband the Stranger you really need to have researched your subject matter and it’s evident that Rebecca has done this, creating something that seems to incredibly real and also so sensitively written. 

An emotive, powerful and hugely thought-provoking read, My Husband the Stranger is a book that I’m so thoroughly glad to have read. It was one of those stories that I know will stay with me, one that I know I won’t be able to forget for a long time to come. My Husband the Stranger was the first book of Rebecca’s that I’ve ever read but I’m really looking forward to reading more by her in the future. 

Review - Christmas at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett

Earlier on this year I had the absolute pleasure of reading Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett and absolutely loved it. Having enjoyed it so much, I couldn’t wait to get the started on Christmas at Butterfly Cove, the third book in the Butterfly Cove series. As I’d hoped it would be, Christmas at Butterfly Cove was a delightful festive treat and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading from beginning to end.

Throughout Christmas at Butterfly Cove,  Sarah's beautiful writing style that I grew to love so very much during the previous book in the series really shone through. There were moments that made me howl with laughter, and others that were so sensitively written that I couldn't help but find myself with a tear in my eye. With some familiar faces appearing throughout the book and reference being paid to things that had happened earlier on in the series, I felt totally at ease reading Christmas at Butterfly Cove. It really did feel like I was returning home after a long time away to catch up with some long lost friends. As such although I feel it would be possible to read Christmas at Butterfly Cove as a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading the previous books in the series first. 

Christmas at Butterfly Cove is like one wonderful Christmas present in the form of a novel and I feel that it is a truly incredible ending to what has been a fabulous series of books. Despite missing the first book in the series, I have thoroughly enjoyed every thing about it and know that I will miss Butterfly Cove and its residents so very much. That said I am truly delighted to have had the opportunity to discover Sarah as an author and I'm thoroughly looking forward to reading whatever she may write next.

Review - Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Carla Burgess

It’s that time of year again when it finally becomes acceptable to read Christmas books and I honestly couldn’t be happier. My first festive read of this year was Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Carla Burgess and I have to say that I thought this was a truly gorgeous book. As well being a fabulous way to begin the Christmas reading, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe certainly provided a wonderful introduction to Carla’s writing whose previous books I haven’t yet read. 

In this book we meet Rachel Jones who, having taken over her parent’s florist business, enjoys 

creating gorgeous floral displays to put a smile on other people’s faces. As the end of another busy day approaches, the new tenant who will be living in the flat above her shop enters.  His name is Anthony Bascombe, a very attractive man who asks Rachel out to dinner - an invitation which Rachel is delighted to accept. Whilst Rachel learns that Anthony is a Detective and they seem to hit it off, what she doesn’t immediately realise is that Anthony is not looking for romance with her but wants answers about how to find her ex-boyfriend. As the story progresses, will Anthony change his mind and take a chance on Rachel? 

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was a book that was full of some really fabulous characters. Although I thought that the way he went about getting the information for his police investigation regarding Rachel’s ex was slightly underhand, Rachel and Anthony were two characters who worked really well together. The chemistry between them was evident from the start and as such I desperately hoped that something good would come of their relationship. Another character who really stood out for me was Bobbi whose story was extremely powerful and really highlighted what Christmas is all about - family and friends! 

What I loved about Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was how easy it was to become immersed in the story and this is undoubtedly due to Carla’s fabulous writing style which pulled me in from the very first page. With some truly wonderful description, I could picture everything perfectly and really felt like I was there with the characters.The amount of emotion and devotion that Carla has poured into Meet Me Under the Mistletoe really shines through and I found that it was impossible to put down. 

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe was a heartwarming, magical and highly enjoyable read that is guaranteed to leave readers with a smile on their face and in the festive spirit. I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to read this book and discover Carla as an author. I’ll definitely be catching up on her previous books!