Under the Lemon Tree

by Emma Cowell

Under the Lemon Tree is another gorgeous read by the very lovely Emma Cowell. I have loved every one of her books and, as always, this one is so beautifully written you can’t help but love the perfectly imperfect characters and fall in love with Greece all over again.

When we first meet Kat, she hasn’t long lost her twin brother, Nik. I can’t even begin to imagine that kind of devastating loss. My heart went out to her and her parents.

When she discovers she has inherited a house, on a Greek island, from an uncle she had never met she is naturally shocked and intrigued. As was I!

I loved following Kat on her journey to Agistri. It sounds like such a beautiful place. I could totally envisage her renovations of her new home and could quite happily live there myself.

I was not prepared for the secrets she discovers about her uncle, her brother, and her mother. Kat’s pain was almost palpable, and my heart ached for her at times throughout this story.

This is such a rollercoaster of an emotional read, set in a stunning location. A heart-warming tale of family dynamics, love, grief, friendship, personal growth, ambition, hope, achievement, romance, true love, and delicious Greek food. I was completely captivated!

** Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley **

Can one Greek summer heal the secrets of the past?

Could discovering a family secret encourage Kat to follow her heart?

Shattered by the sudden loss of her twin, Nik, Kat is lost in grief. The comfort of family feels both soothing and suffocating, but everything changes when she inherits a house on the breathtaking Greek island of Agistri from a mysterious uncle she’s never met.

Arriving on Agistri, Kat is mesmerized by its crystalline waters, lush pine forests, and the citrus-scented air. Among the white-washed houses and warm, welcoming locals, she begins to feel her heart heal. The island offers more than solace, sparking courage in Kat to face her loss — and maybe even embrace the spark of unexpected love…

But as she unearths her family’s buried past, Kat must also confront her own fears of belonging, forgiveness — and the possibility of rediscovering happiness in the shadow of heartbreak…

Treat yourself!

I.C.Y.M.I

Happy reading!

Daisy’s War (A Family at War Book 1)

by Roberta Grieve 

Daisy’s War was a lovely read!

Daisy is a very likeable character who is desperate to do her bit for the war effort, along with everyone else, so she finds herself a job in the NAAFI. It’s hard work, but she loves it (apart from her suspicions that someone might thieving from the stores).

Her childhood sweetheart, boy next door, Bob has been sent abroad, and she fears she may never see him again. She has promised to wait for him though, so when Lofty strolls into her life she tries her hardest to resist him. She is so determined to be true to her Bob and I thought that was so sweet. We can’t help who we fall for though and I really felt for her as she wrestled with her conflicted feelings. Bob and Lofty are both lovely characters too.

I can’t imagine living through a world war with air raid threats, rationing, and your whole life being turned upside down. I know how it feels to be left behind whilst someone you love is in a war zone for months at a time though as my husband was in the Army for 22 years. Even though he was never front line there was always that niggle of worry that each time he went away might be the last time I saw him alive. It’s difficult getting up each day and just carrying on as ‘normal’ but there was nothing else I could do. Especially with two small children. I found Daisy’s worry for the uncertainty of her future very relatable.

Daisy’s family and friends are a good bunch of characters too. Each adding their own depth to the story. I really enjoyed it and hope to read book two in the series before too long. I would have jumped straight into it, but I have other reading commitments right now.

If you love a historical romance, I think you’ll love this book.

** According to Amazon I purchased the kindle edition of this book on the 10^{th of} July 2021 **

Daisy’s War is a historical romance set on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent during World War Two. Daisy is too young to join the WAAFs like her glamorous sister Sylvia and opts instead to work in the NAAFI which serves the sailors and soldiers stationed in the dockyard and garrison with snacks, cigarettes and toiletries. She has vowed to stay true to Bob, her childhood sweetheart. But Bob is serving overseas and she fears he will not return. Enter tall handsome soldier Christopher, known to his friends as Lofty.

Happy reading!