Anything Could Happen by Lucy Diamond

 

For Lara and her daughter Eliza, it has always been just the two of them. But when Eliza turns eighteen and wants to connect with her father, Lara is forced to admit a secret that she has been keeping from her daughter her whole life.

Eliza needs answers - and so does Lara. Their journey to the truth will take them on a road trip across England and eventually to New York, where it all began. Dreams might have been broken and opportunities missed, but there are still surprises in store...

Lucy Diamond is back with her new novel Anything Could Happen which is centred on a storyline of missed chances and new beginnings.

It has always been Lara and her daughter Eliza but Eliza wants to connect with her father but in doing so Lara is going to have to bare her heartbreak with her daughter and retell her whirlwind romantic night in New York with Eliza’s father.

This was an enjoyable novel by Lucy Diamond, with down to earth characters who are full of heart but have had their fair share of bad luck that have sent their lives down different paths. The storyline was a little predictable but there were enough bumps along the way to still keep me engrossed in the storyline.

Lara and Ben were both loveable characters who you just want to see them have their own happy ever afters but Eliza too a little bit more warming to as she had spoilt and demanding characteristics that grinded on me at times!

It was a lighter and slower pace read than I am used to when reading Lucy’s books so will make perfect holiday read being able to pick up and put down rather than grabbing your attention leaving you unable to put the book down.

The Promise by Lucy Diamond

 

When faced with the sudden death of his brother, Dan’s mission is clear. He puts together a project to help pick up the pieces and support his grieving sister-in-law Zoe, plus her young children. This is Dan’s promise - to ensure his family’s happiness, and to try and live up to the man his brother was.

But tying up loose ends brings a shocking secret to light, and calls into question everything Dan knew about his older brother. With more than just his promise on the line, Dan is faced with an ultimatum: Should he tell the truth and risk his family’s fragile happiness, or will his brother’s secrets end up becoming his own?

Lucy Diamond has been a favourite author of mine since I read Summer at Shell Cottage, I then looked forward to each future release and she has never disappointed me. I was excited to see she had a new novel due for release entitled The Promise, wasting no time I popped over to read the synopsis to see what Lucy was going to treat us to in this novel and it was the first time I have ever been nervous and hesitant to read one of her books.

After the sudden unexplained death of Dan’s brother Patrick, he deals with his grieving process by wanting to step into his brother shoes and so he draws up a plan to take over all the jobs he used to do and support his sister in-law Zoe and her three children with chores but if Zoe hasn’t already had the most life shattering news already Dan has uncovered something else that is set to break her heart into even more pieces.

Phew…… That was a hard book to read and I know this is going to be an incredibly hard review to write too. Since losing my husband to the Thames I have avoided all books to do with references to lost lives to it and anything that is too heavy on the loss of a loved one but reading this book was an emotional journey for me.  

The storyline is told from Dan, Zoe and Lydia’s points of view so we are able to see how each character is affected by the death of Patrick and how they are dealing with their grief. Each of the characters in this novel were so well developed they felt so alive which made me feel emotionally attached to them.

The thing I often find in novels is the death of a character is brushed over with rose tinted glasses but in The Promise Lucy Diamond has explored the reality of losing someone in a tragic way capturing honest and raw emotions of grief and looks at how once someone dies it is all to easy for everyone to put them on a pedal stool and only see the good in that person never dare to mention or highlight any weaknesses or wrong doings that they had and especially when things come to light after the passing of a loved one. The author also explores the way people act around a new widow often ignoring them as they don’t know what to say but with emotions high sometimes can feel like you are being blamed or judged so the novel sheds light on these reactions.

There were no slow point to this novel there was so much packed into the storyline and with secrets being unravelled throughout the book it made it such an addictive and captivating read, a novel that just kept on giving. The issues that were tackled were dealt with so beautifully with tender care. The author was clever in the way she delivered the circumstances surrounding Patricks death as we know from the opening of the book that Patrick is found in the Thames but we don’t know what happens so we are in the dark with so many questions in our mind, was it an accident, was it suicide the same questions that Zoe and Dan will always roll around in their head but never have the answers too so we are in the dark all the way through the storyline with them but we are given the one thing they desperately need at the end which is the last piece of the puzzle- the closure that they need.

This was a heartfelt poignant read that really resonated with me and will be a novel that will never leave me. SO beautifully written this book will appeal to those who look for a story of love, loss and secrets.

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On A Beautiful Day by Lucy Diamond

It’s a beautiful day in Manchester and four friends are meeting for a birthday lunch. But then they witness a shocking accident just metres away which acts as a catalyst for each of them.

For Laura, it’s a wake-up call to heed the ticking of her biological clock. Sensible Jo finds herself throwing caution to the wind in a new relationship. Eve, who has been trying to ignore the worrying lump in her breast, feels helpless and out of control. And happy-go-lucky India is drawn to one of the victims of the accident, causing long-buried secrets to rise to the surface.

It has been a while since I have read a book by Lucy Diamond but I read the synopsis for On a Beautiful Day and it sounded like the type of storyline I felt like reading about friendships and life choices and evaluations.

The storyline begins with our four main characters, Laura, Eve, Jo and India, who are incredibly close friends who have all met up for a birthday lunch but whilst they were enjoying themselves and getting merry they witnessed a tragic accident over the road from where they sat. The women visibly shaken from the event soon realise this is a wake up call for them and begin to see their lives differently.

I made the right choice in choosing this book to read. I connected with the characters and the storyline so much with events they were facing it was rather eerie for me! Each of the women have a battle they are facing and most readers will connect with one of the storylines but your heart also goes out to the other women’s troubles too.

Personally, I did find it took me a long time to differentiate between the characters, trying to work out who was who and which battle they were facing. Each chapter was told from one of the women’s points of view so we get to find out some very emotional situations the women are facing or have faced, some of which they have kept to themselves unable to bring themselves to share their feelings and experiences with anyone and this book certainly shows us that talking and sharing is a big step to healing.

What I loved most about this book is the friendship between the women, there are not enough books out there for me that features an incredible strong and natural friendship between normal day to day women like this.

There were a lot of sensitive topics that were involved in this storyline from serious health situations to relationship troubles and fertility just to name a few and each and every situation was handled with such care whilst bringing awareness to the topics at the same time.

This book will have you engrossed right up to the very last page and you end up feeling like one of the group so it is with regret you leave the women behind at the end after haring laughs and tears along the way with them. It is certainly one of those books that make you stop and re-evaluate your life as you never do know what is around the corner.

The Year of Taking Chances by Lucy Diamond

It's New Year's Eve, and Gemma and Spencer Bailey are throwing a house party. There's music, dancing, champagne and all their best friends under one roof. It's going to be a night to remember. Also at the party is Caitlin, who has returned to the village to pack up her much-missed mum's house and to figure out what to do with her life; and Saffron, a PR executive who's keeping a secret which no amount of spin can change. The three women bond over Gemma's dodgy cocktails and fortune cookies, and vow to make this year their best one yet. But as the following months unfold, Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin find themselves tested to their limits by shocking new developments. Family, love, work, home - all the things they've taken for granted - are thrown into disarray.
Under pressure, they are each forced to rethink their lives and start over. But dare they take a chance on something new?

The Year of Taking Chances is a perfect read for this time of year, we will all soon be making our New Year’s resolutions or thinking of our hopes for 2015 so what better book to read than one about three realistic and relatable women who will be making big changes and taking chances in 2015. Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin first meet at Gemma and husband Spencer’s New Years Eve party as they bond over awfully mixed cocktails they soon find themselves reading their fortune cookies but they couldn’t predict how much the year ahead was going to have an impact on their lives.

There was such a large group of characters in this book alongside our three heroines and it did take a while to get to grips with who was who but each character brings something to the storyline to help make this an enjoyable page turner. The situations that our three heroines find themselves in are normal everyday situations which we could find ourselves in and their reactions to these problems were also realistic so you could relate or sympathise with each of the ladies. I sympathised strongly to Gemma as I have found myself in a similar position before ( thankfully not with any injuries) and at one point in the book I had got so wrapped up in her storyline that when there was one shocking remark made I had to put the book down because it had really riled me!

There is a lot of content covered in this book from family troubles to finances and relationships to name a few so at times in the book there were some emotional and touching parts but there were also fun and positive parts too so this book was still an uplifting  read. This was another well written storyline with well developed characters, this is yet another enjoyable read by Lucy Diamond a great book to kick of the year.

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One Night In Italy by Lucy Diamond

If journalist Anna had to write up the story of her own life, it wouldn’t make for a great headline: Dull Journo Has Dull Boyfriend! The only mystery in Anna’s life is that she’s never known who her dad is but with her mum refusing to tell her more she’s at a dead end. When she accidentally comes across a clue that her father is Italian, it opens up a burning curiosity in Anna. Soon she’s cooking Italian food, signing up for an Italian class and even considering dusting off her passport to go and find her dad in person… 
Sophie is serving gelato to tourists in Italy when she gets the call that her father has had a serious heart attack. In a rush, she grabs her well-worn backpack and heads back to the one place she’s been avoiding for so long – home. Living with her mum again while her dad recuperates, and taking a job teaching Italian to make ends meet, Sophie has to face up to the secrets she’s kept buried in the past. 
Catherine has no idea what the future holds. Her children have left for university, her husband has left her for another woman and her bank account is left empty after dedicating her life to raising her family. She needs a job and an identity all of a sudden. At an Italian evening class she makes a start in finding new friends Anna and Sophie. And she’s going to need good friends when she discovers her husband’s lies run even deeper than his infidelity… As Anna embarks on the trip to Italy that could answer all of her questions, will the truth live up to her dreams?

I have been looking forward to reading Lucy Diamonds new book One Night In Italy, I love the authors books and I also have a great interest in anything Italian be it the language of love the delicious food and the stunning sights so I couldn’t wait to begin.

Anna has never known anything about her father until now when she is visiting her nan and she lets slip that her dad is called Gino the Italian, with not much to go on Anna is determined to find her dad and on her search for him she begins to do all she can to embrace her inner Italian side she never knew she had.

Catherine’s world is crashing down around her as her two children are off to uni and on the same day her husband leaves her. Suddenly she finds she has time on her hands and so she decides to enrol on an Italian language course.

Sophie has been living in Italy for the last 2 years but after her dad falls ill she has to return home. Back in Sheffield she is desperate for work and when an opportunity to teach Italian for 10 weeks came up she jumped at the chance.

The three ladies are joined at the language class and along with the rest of the class they all soon become great friends and help each other with their problems.

What a great read this was, it wasn’t what I was expecting at all I had assumed that the book would be set in Italy but actually it is set in Sheffield but yet the storyline wasn’t short of an Italian theme. It took me a while to distinguish between the three main characters but once I got used to who was who I soon became swept away in the storyline. All of the three women have completely different personalities and problems so they all bring something to the book and because the story is told from each of their points of views we really feel like we can connect to each of the characters. It is unusual for me but I didn’t actually have a favourite I loved all three of the ladies.

Although the book had a light feel to it, it did cover some serious issues too which gave the book more depth and also gave the book a more realistic feel to it. I have never attempted any Italian but reading this book watching the characters learning the language of love and also with each chapter title is written in Italian ( with an English translation) it did spark my interest and I still remember some of the phrases now so as well as enjoying this book it has educated me to!

This author always manages to create a busy book with lots of storylines going on but she also manages to weave them together beautifully and this book is no exception.  The ending to this fabulous book is tied up perfectly to so we are not left on a cliff hanger or with questions still in our heads waiting to be answered.

I really enjoyed this book, although not the holiday read I was expecting it was still an enjoyable read that I was actually quite disappointed to finish it!

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Me and Mr Jones by Lucy Diamond

Meet the women in love with three very different brothers . . .
Izzy’s determined to escape her troubled past with a new start by the sea – but flirtatious Charlie Jones is causing complications.

Alicia’s been happily married to loyal Hugh for years but secretly craves excitement. Maybe it’s time to spice things up?

Emma’s relationship with David was once fun and romantic but trying for a baby has taken its toll. Then temptation comes along . . . As the future of the family’s B&B becomes uncertain, Izzy, Alicia and Emma are thrown together unexpectedly. It seems that keeping up with the Joneses is harder than anyone thought . . .

There are a select few authors whose books I wait impatiently and eagerly to be released each year and Lucy Diamond is one of those authors. I am sure most of you have a few fail safe authors who you know what ever book you pick up by them is sure to be pure escapism, well this author is well and truly on that list for me! You can always tell a Lucy Diamond book from way off as she has her own signature look when it comes to her books they are always bright and cheerful and Me and Mr Jones is as bright as they come.

Me and Mr Jones follows Emma, Alicia and Izzy all who are the love interest of the Jones brothers. The story alternates between each of the women's perspectives, allowing us to really get to know each of the characters in turn as well as their partners and the dreaded mother in-law! Things have become to much for parents Lilian and Eddie and the time has come for them to leave the family home and b&b business but they really want to keep it in the family but which one of their three sons will be ready to take charge?

I loved each and everyone of the characters in this book even down to Lilian who appears to be the mother in-law from hell! Quite often when there are a large amount of characters in a book it can often get a little confusing as to who is who but this was not the case in this book all of the characters were developed so well they were all quite clear to tell apart. I loved the relationships but I did enjoy Izzy and Charlies relationship best as there was more excitement and mystery as to will they wont they which kept me gripped.

What I have always loved about Lucy Diamonds books is her writing style, she always manages to make her story lines flow so effortlessly through out the entire book that you cant help devour her books in one sitting. The author has created a storyline which is believable and interesting so it held my interest from start to finish.

I maybe being very hopeful here but I do feel as though there could be a possibility of a sequel to this book and I for one would be first in line to pick up my copy and re-visit these characters to see how all there lives have changed.

This is a delightful, warm read that centers around family and relationships making an ideal summer read with a perfect setting in the beautiful Lyme Regis.

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Summer with my Sister by Lucy Diamond

I loved The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond last year and so it didn't take much persuading for me to buy her recent release Summer with my Sister.

It is quite clear from early on in this book that the two main characters Polly and Clare are two polls apart and they clearly do not get on and yet they are sisters! Polly has been living away from the family village and her parents are very prod at what she has achieved in her high powered job. Soon Polly's world is turned upside down when she is unexpectedly made redundant and with no other option she has to head back to live with her parents but she can't bring herself to tell her parents the truth.

Sister Clare is bringing up her tow children alone and is trying to hold a part time job down at the local surgery but it is getting harder to try and make ends meet. When she finds out her sister is coming back to stay with their parents she is less than excited about seeing her and instantly is curious as to the real reason of her sisters stay.

Will the sisters be able to put their differences aside and help each other out of their current situations?

When I first met our little workaholic Polly I have to say I didn't like her character and this was a little worrying as one of the most important parts of a good book is having a likeable character, but luckily as the book progresses and Polly returns home her character begins to change and I started to warm to her character. I instantly warmed to Clare who was a very realistic character struggling to juggle work and family life whilst trying to make ends meet something the majority of us can relate to.

The storyline wasn't too challenging and made for a great light hearted read, there were only a handful of characters which I love as there was no problem trying to remember who was who. I loved the build up the author created around the situation involving the girls brothers death this is what kept me turning the pages eager to find out what had happened.

This story is full of heartache, romance and family secrets which all rolled into one created a great sentimental read. I really enjoyed this book and it is well worth a read, but I still say The Beach Cafe is my favourite by this author!

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The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond

Whilst I am waiting for some of my favourite authors to release their new books I have found myself reading a few books by authors I have not tried before. I have just finished The Beach Café by Lucy Diamond. I have seen books by Lucy Diamond on the shelves before but they have never seemed to stick out for me until I came across this one which once I had read the blurb I decided to give it a try.

Plot
Evie Flynn is in a relationship which doesn't seem to be going anywhere and is also stuck in a job which she hates. Evie is thrown a life line when she receives tragic news that her dear aunt Jo has died in a car crash but has left her precious beach café to Evie. This is an opportunity for Evie to make something of her life. Surely she can run her aunts café how hard can it be?
Evie soon finds out that running the café although enjoyable is hard work and she is missing her life back home will she be able to stick out running her Beach Café or will she decide to sell up and head back home?

My Opinion
I was looking for a summer read, as a few people have asked me to recommend a great holiday read and although I have read some great reads recently I have yet to find one that has been released this year which really gets me in the holiday mood! This was why this book took my eye as I was sure with the title The Beach Café it was sure to get me in the right mood.

I found that the book had a slow start but by chapter 5 the book started to pick up its pace and I really started to slip into the story. The remainder of the book continued at a comfortable pace. Personally I felt that we didn't need the first part of the book as the story really started for me when Evie arrived in Cornwall.

The main character in this book is Evie. Her character was easy to warm to from the start of the book. She seems to be stuck in a rut and is unsure of what to do about it. She is the black sheep of her family and her family always seem to be sitting waiting for her next failure to happen. It was great to see the determination in Evie to prove to her family that she can achieve something without failing miserably. As the reader we can see that Evie's relationship with Matthew is going nowhere and I was glad that the relationship was not drawn out to long as I think this would have dampened the storyline.

I really enjoyed the mix of characters in this book and the relationship between Evie and the other characters come across so well. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Evie and her chef Ed and Phoebe who was a teenage homeless girl who Evie reached out to. I thought I knew what the outcome of Phoebe was going to be but I was wrong! Although Evie was our main character we did learn about each of the other characters stories which made each of the characters feel more meaningful. I was glad that the book wasn't predictable other than the romance side of things in this book which is why I found it very hard to put this book down.

I thought the storyline was perfect and enjoyable. the story being based in Cornwall was a nice touch and made the book feel more realistic with it being set in a familiar place.

I would recommend this book as a holiday read although a word of warning put it in your hand luggage as the book is 489 pages long so will damage your luggage allowance! After reading this book I will keep my eyes open for future book releases by Lucy Diamond.