Daisy JamesRezensionen
Autor von Wedding Bells at Villa Limoncello
Rezensionen
If The Dress Fits von Daisy James
This was a funny short read which I enjoyed. The baking was of course very acceptable, who doesn’t love a cupcake, just be careful what is added!!
A great romance with added food always a winner for me
This was fine enough, but I didn't love it. The writing style didn't click for me, and it was a little too cutesy for my tastes: everyone is best friends immediately after meeting, and our main character loves to list colors that she sees (e.g. "raspberry ripple") without really offering real descriptions. Also, it hardly seemed set in Italy--the author definitely drops Italian words (~fruttivendolo~) for ~atmosphere~ but (perhaps because the book is so short) there was much more telling than showing. I found this book by chance looking at my library's website, and it was a quick enough read, but I don't plan to continue with the series.
Amelia (known as Millie) Harper has just the right thing to take her mind off her broken heart: an opportunity to set up The Paradise Cookery School on the Caribbean island of St Lucia. As if Millie's wet welcome to St Lucia wasn't funny enough, her drenching leaves her with big hair akin to Monica Geller when the Friends go to Barbados. Picturing Millie like that was enough to get me sniggering like a schoolgirl.
As well as trying out gorgeous recipes, Millie has to try to get the local laid-back workmen to stick to their schedule, which is easier said than done with the sun blazing down and the ripples of the swimming pool causing a temptation that's impossible to resist. Local cook, Ella, and Estate Manager, Zach, are on hand to help Millie and, after a stand-offish start with Zach, Millie finds her pulse racing - Zach could be the perfect cure for her broken heart.
What really surprised me about Sunshine and Secrets was the added mystery of the disappearing cocoa pods. Rather than succumb to the easy-going pace of the Caribbean vibe, it made me look at the characters a little more closely as I tried to gather clues.
Sunshine and Secrets is so full of sunshine that I needed my Factor 50 on just to read it. I felt as if I was on St Lucia with Millie, sitting drinking an Andy's Blast cocktail in the beachside Purple Parrot cocktail bar. Naturally, I didn't want to leave, although in real life I would have been burnt to a crisp!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Confetti & Confusion picks up right where Sunshine and Secrets left off as the shiny new kitchen of the Paradise Cookery School opens for business. Amelia (Millie) Harper and St Lucian native, Ella, worked so hard to get the kitchen ready and now the fun can begin. The first customer is a bridal party, and while Imogen and the hens are cooking up chocolatey creations in the kitchen, Alex and the stags partake in some testosterone fuelled events like quad-biking. Anything can happen, and often does, with Mishap Millie around but luckily hunky estate manager Zach is around to pick Millie up when she falls (literally).
Millie’s feelings for Zach have become more intense in Confetti & Confusion and every day she spends with him mends her broken heart a little more. Millie’s stay on the island is only temporary and she is adamant that she doesn’t want a holiday romance but maybe Zach doesn’t either, only Millie is too insecure to find out. As they spend more time together it is clear to the reader, if not to Millie, that Zach has feelings for her too but just when you think ‘the moment’ is approaching, Zach’s ex appears on the scene. Millie retreats at the speed of light when it appears that Zach is back with Chloe and my heart sank for her but sometimes appearances can be deceptive.
When a fire in the hotel kitchen destroys the wedding cake and the wedding planner is nowhere to be found, Millie is determined to make sure that Imogen and Alex’s dream wedding goes as planned. Well I say dream wedding, but it’s more Imogen’s mum’s dream wedding as Imogen and Alex would have been happy to get married at home in their local parish church. As more things go wrong for the couple it looks like someone is out to sabotage their wedding…but why?
Although I would have liked a bit more scheming and intrigue around the mystery of the wedding sabotage, this unexpected addition does manage to add more depth and drama to the story and sets Confetti & Confusion apart from a twee hearts and flowers chick-lit book. It’s testament to the way that Daisy James writes a book so full of heart without leaving an overly saccharine taste in your mouth and that’s no easy feat when there are delicious recipes being described so beautifully that I could almost smell the chocolate! Thankfully, Millie's story is far from over so I can't wait to jet off to St Lucia again soon.
Confetti & Confusion is a mouth-watering, sunny delight; definitely a book to pack in your suitcase for your summer holiday this year!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Daisy James has an uncanny knack of bringing her locations to life in her books with sights, sounds and smells. There is plenty of opportunity to get the reader's senses buzzing with Izzie running a fabulously named 'Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes' course at Villa Limoncello. I think I had a few smell and taste hallucinations while reading this book; I could certainly not get the smell of lemons and the taste of limoncello out of my mind, that's for sure.
Izzie's guests are a community choir from York who have come to Tuscany to rehearse for a singing competition. With such a colourful array of guests, there are quite a few secrets and whispering in corners as passions run high and tempers fray. Izzie tries to keep everyone's spirits up but she has enough to contend with as she tries to work out how villa owner, Luca, feels about her. Izzie has been offered a job back home in Cornwall, which holds both happy and sad memories for her, but she really wants to stay in Italy. If only she could pin Luca down and talk to him; it seems like they are passing like ships in the night but Izzie might be setting sail for the horizon if Luca doesn't open up to her.
I was a bit worried about reading a Christmas book in October but it's not overly festive at all, which is great! With gorgeous blue skies and the glorious scent of lemons, it got me in the mood for limoncello rather than egg nog. You always get a bit more than you bargained for in a Daisy James book as she does like to add a bit of mystery, intrigue and skullduggery to her romantic fiction. You just never know what to expect and that's what makes the book such a good read.
Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello was the perfect book to be reading as the temperature dropped in October; it warmed my heart, left me with a smile on my face and an unmistakable thirst for limoncello. Speaking of which, I also have to say that Daisy James includes several recipes at the end of the book, including a recipe to make your own limoncello - I almost dropped my kindle in excitement!! I have to try this although I'm sure I'll have difficulty leaving it for 30 days without having sneaky little tasters.
You don't need a passport to escape to Tuscany this winter, pick up a copy of Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello and let Daisy James transport you to Italy from the comfort of your favourite chair with her fabulous sparkly (and mouthwatering) new book.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The story is good, there's everything in this story, friendship, community, second chances, good food, and lots of tinsel.
If it wasn't for the dialogues, very stilted, I'd have given this book four stars.
The story is good, there's everything in this story, friendship, community, second chances, good food, and lots of tinsel.
If it wasn't for the dialogues, very stilted, I'd have given this book four stars.
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Pain has a way of clouding one’s judgement, one’s path in life, and that is certainly what’s happened to Gabbie Andrews. In the wake of her mother’s death, Gabbie left her small English hometown, enrolled in a prestigious aromatherapy program, and has gone on to become a stand out in one of France’s most important perfume houses. It is at the most critical moment of her career that Gabbie realizes, being squirreled away in a lab, away from people and helping others isn’t what she wants long-term.
After a stunning tantrum by her boss, Abbie finds herself packing her bags and heading home to jolly old England, her beloved father, and the automotive garage that has been a part of her family for several generations. Coming home is bittersweet. On the one hand, Gabbie is back among those who know and love her while on the other hand, she is facing difficulties she never anticipated. Her father looks to be in bad physical shape, her once neat and tidy home is a dirty mess, the garage is even worse condition, and the memories of her mother and the pain of her loss is nearly overwhelming.
Gabbie has two choices, wallow in self-pity while she tries to figure out her life or dive into the mess and try and make some sense of her home while she tries to figure out her life. Clearly, Gabbie is going to help her father which means sorting out the house and the garage. While the house comes together quickly, the garage is a cat of a different color. While the mechanics are constantly busy, the books and outstanding invoices tell a very different story. The creditors are knocking on the door, the bank isn’t inclined to help, and Gabbie is concerned about the toll this mess is taking on her father’s health.
Running parallel to the family/garage mess is Gabbie’s personal life. Gabbie only began her work with aromatherapy as a means of helping her mother through her cancer treatments. Some of Gabbie’s happiest memories with her mother happened in their small shed working with scents and oils, creating bespoke concoctions meant to help. Though she had no intention of going back into the small building she and her mother worked in together, circumstances arise that cause Gabbie to return to the small building and face her grief head on. As one thing leads to another, Gabbie rediscovers her love of learning, mixing, and helping which leads her down a path she never saw for her life.
The Bottom Line: The first bit of this book nearly caused me to DNF this title, but I’m ultimately glad I plowed through the awkward bits and got to the good story. The good story begins when Gabbie returns home and begins to dive into the mess that is her home and her life. Though the work is difficult, physically and emotionally, every step is one step closer to Gabbie healing and being able to move forward with the life she truly wants. There is nothing easy about Gabbie’s path, but it is a necessary evil that teaches her so much about love, friendship, kindness, generosity, and the power found in helping others. This is absolutely a feel-good book with literally everything working out in the end. There is just the right amount of drama and romance to enhance the read, good characters that are worth rooting for, and story that is just sweet and simple.
I do, however, feel that the "comedy" aspect fell a bit short. Honestly, if it hadn't included it in the title description, I don't think I would feel so disappointed. But since I was fully prepared for a laugh, I was left to just enjoy the simple love story instead. Hard life, right?
The particular edition I read was an ARC and my guess is that it'll still be cleaned up a bit. With characters named Martha and Marcia...needless to say I struggled at times to remember who was who and where they fit into the story. Small details, but some greater differentiation would have made things a lot more clear, and I'm uncertain of whether this might be changed in finalized editions.
What did I think?: I thought that for an easy read, it was quite enjoyable. It held my attention well enough, although I didn't find myself itching to pick it up at night. It's endearing and light, which is exactly what I was in the mood for.
Who should read it?: With beach season upon us, this one would be perfect for the girl who is either relaxing in the sun or wishing for their own wedding extravaganza.
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