I enjoyed the story and the characters had depth, which I am always a fan of. Even the supporting characters were important to the building of the main characters story. And the setting was brilliant! Didi and Shay were friends who went on one last group trip abroad before they all went their separate ways for uni, etc. They had some magical moments while there and started their relationship and all was going well until an incident causes everything to change. One magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended - and he left without even saying goodbye. But Shay's return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It's time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone's intention all along . . .

Didi is de manager van een prachtig en luxueus hotel in de Cotswolds, waar ze allerlei brandjes blust en haar gasten tevreden houdt, maar niets had haar kunnen voorbereiden op deze nieuwe ontmoeting met Shay, die terug is in Elliscombe en logeert in het hotel. Oude gevoelens komen direct weer naar boven, maar die wil ze absoluut niet toelaten. Hij kan en mag niet nog eens haar leven overhoophalen, zeker niet nu ze verloofd is en eindelijk gelukkig is. Shay is terug om het huis van zijn terminaal zieke vader op te knappen, die na een enerverend en stormachtig leven zijn laatste maanden thuis wil doorbrengen. It is always a fabulous feeling to be settling down with a new Jill Mansell book, and this one is certainly up there with her very best. From quite early on I felt drawn into the book and at the same time a warmth glowing from the words, such is my love of this author. It felt comforting but new simultaneously.Didi en Shay ontmoetten elkaar 13 jaar geleden in Venetië, waar ze de 18e verjaardag van hun gezamenlijke vriendin Layla vierden. Tijdens een sprookjesachtige sneeuwnacht waarin ze allebei het hotel uitglipten, bleken ze een speciale klik te hebben en ze waren al gauw onafscheidelijk. Totdat een schandaal ervoor zorgde dat Shay halsoverkop vertrok, hij haar hart brak en zij hem nooit meer zag. Tot nu. I love Jill Mansell’s sweet, heartfelt romcoms and I’m looking forward to read more of her works in near future. I waited too long for both parties to come to their senses! Just because of extra unnecessary angsty, heartbreaking, long chapters, I cut some points and I gave three still I truly enjoyed this book but I wish it could be less angsty more romantic stars. ( by the way I also enjoyed the side stories of residents of Elliscombe but I think I wanted to concentrate on Didi and Shane’s second chance love story) I adore Jill Mansell books. They're frothy fun, hilarious to read and full of lovable characters. I haven't read them all, but I've read enough to know the formula she works with. It's a predictable one but it tends to work. Sure, she hasn't hit every book out of the park, but a lot of them have been a really good romp when I'm in the need for a light piece of feel-good fluff. I've read some of her books several times over for that factor alone. Naast Didi en Shay volg je nog meer sprankelende personages, die allemaal hun eigen verhaal en belevenissen hebben, waardoor het boek geen moment verveelt, je je onderdeel voelt van het dorpsleven en je iedereen in je hart sluit. Natuurlijk worden al deze verhaallijnen weer op een prachtige manier met elkaar verweven, in de typische Jill Mansell-stijl waar ik zo van houd. Voor mij begint de lente altijd pas echt wanneer ik haar nieuwste boek heb gelezen en ook nu heeft ze mij absoluut niet teleurgesteld!

Except for a nasty player whose comeuppance is very satisfying to witness, Mansell’s characters easily endear themselves to the reader, and if the plot is somewhat predictable, it doesn’t matter one iota because we all want these characters to overcome the obstacles thrown into their paths and find happiness. And it’s no spoiler to reveal that they do. Readers in the market for a Happy Ever After should look no further. The old spark is still there, but Didi’s determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she’s happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn’t staying. He’s made a promise to his father. He’s going to keep it. And then he’ll be gone. In fact is was Red Masons' story that possibly intrigued me the most early on, he is a real character, and it felt as though he was rather charismatic even while being rather frail. His son Shay is the reason for the book's title, and I really enjoyed the various dimensions to his personality too. I’m not typically a romance reading kinda girl, but this sounded so cute I had to give it a shot and thankfully, it lived up to my expectations. Super cute and perfect for a sit down with a cup of tea. I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end. We are treated a few viewpoints which gave us some rather interesting threads.The characters were all great, well apart from the odd one or two. You can't love them all, but these two were meant to be hated. Then there were the characters that I wanted to know more about, I felt I could have a book about each of these people's storyline and I would be happy. The beginning of the book was truly a fairy tale, magical, extra sweet-swoon-soft kind of adorable! Two 18 years old teenagers in Venice, it’s cold, snowing. If you're into modern, swift reads set in England with minimal commitment, multiple love stories, PG rating, and Hallmark movie vibes (no judgment here, folks - you like what you like): this book is for you. The plot is thoroughly enjoyable and makes for the perfect romantic read. The book is set in the Cotswolds and I adored Mansell's descriptions of well known villages and found myself transported to the beauty of the Cotswolds. This is pure escapism.

The old spark is still there, but Didi's determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she's happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn't staying. He's made a promise to his father. He's going to keep it. And then he'll be gone.One magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended – and he left without even saying goodbye. Rekindling old flames, sweet second chance love stories are one of my favorites romance themes after enemies to lovers which always comes at the first place! But Shay’s return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It’s time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone’s intention all along . . .