Recommendations based on "The Pleasing Hour A Novel"

'so Likeable, Smart And Wise. A Bittersweet Read About Love, Life And Friendship That Makes You Stop And Think Long After You've Finished Reading The Last Page.' - Bestselling Author Tasmina Perry 'entertaining, Funny And Full Of Wisdom, I Loved This Book.' - Bestselling Author Katie Fforde 'i Read This Recently And Loved It So Much. I Cried Buckets, But It's Ultimately A Really Positive, Uplifting Book About Making Every Day Count.' - Bestselling Author Clare Mackintosh The Smallest Things Can Make The Biggest Difference. Annie Has Been Sad For So Long That She's Forgotten How To Be Any Other Way. Until She Meets Polly. Polly Is Everything That Annie Is Not. She's Colourful, Joyful, Happy. Because If Recent Events Have Taught Polly Anything, It's That Your Time Is Too Short To Waste A Single Day. Polly Has One Hundred Days To Help Annie Find Happiness. Annie's Convinced It's Impossible, But So Is Saying No To Polly. And On An Unforgettable Journey, Annie Begins To Realise That Maybe, Just Maybe, There's Still Colour To Be Found In The World. But Then It Becomes Clear That Polly's About To Need Her New Friend More Than Ever...and Annie Will Have To Decide Once And For All Whether Letting Others In Is A Risk Worth Taking. If You Liked Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Or The Keeper Of Lost Things, You'll Love How To Be Happy 'a Joyful, Wise Read' - Rosie Blake 'it's A Gorgeous Book - Funny, Touching, Sweet, Sad And Profound.' - Daisy Buchanan 'you'll Laugh And Cry . . . Heartwarming' - Best 'uplifting' - Independent 'will Make You Laugh While It Tugs At Your Heart Strings' - The People

#1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel’s deeply moving novel is the story of a woman whose life is turned upside down while living temporarily in the French countryside.Oona Kelly Webster has much to be grateful for… A striking woman with red hair and green eyes, she has a loving family and a job she adores, editing a prestigious line of books. To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, she and her husband Charles have planned a visit to France.But then Charles drops a bombshell. He has been living a lie--hiding an affair for a year—and he is leaving Oona for a younger male lover.Although devastated, Oona decides to travel to France without Charles. She arrives in a charming village an hour outside of Paris, and settles into the house she has rented, called La Belle Florence—named after the king’s mistress for whom it was built. But just as she’s catching her breath, she’s dealt another blow: her company’s merger will eliminate her job.In the space of a few months, everything she nurtured for decades has slipped through her fingers. The only silver lining is that she can remain in France, where the simple life in beautiful surroundings slowly begins to heal her-- as does the little white dog she rescues, and a friendly neighbor hailing from Trinidad, who delights her with his openness and warmth.Though she did not at first recognize him, her neighbor, she soon realizes, is a well-known actor. As their feelings begin to deepen, Oona wrestles with the risks of opening her heart again—especially with a younger, very famous man.Never Say Never is an inspiring novel about a woman who finds a second chance at happiness and love, all because she understands the importance of being brave enough to stay open to change.

This summer, escape to the Seaside Cottages in the Scottish isles with this delightful mother-daughter story about second chances in love, life, and home renovations, by New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan. EVERYONE IS SEARCHING FOR THEIR PERFECT HOUSE. BUT HOME IS REALLY WHERE THE HEART IS... Janey Carter has a lot to be grateful for--a home by the sea in the Scottish isles, a job that she loves, two kids who have successfully launched, and a network of kind and supportive friends. But since her husband left, her confidence has taken a nosedive. And then, out of the blue, her thirty-year-old daughter Essie announces she's moving back home. Janey loves Essie dearly, but she was never the easiest to live with, and Janie has been enjoying the empty nest life. Yes, Essie Carter has just lost her job, can't afford her rent in Edinburgh, and her boyfriend isn't ready to commit. She hates to admit defeat and isn't wild about moving back to the remote island community where she was raised. But maybe the sea air will clear her head? No sooner is Essie back under her mother's roof than an unusual opportunity pops up: the shabby and unloved Seaside Cottages next door come up for sale. Janey has some experience renovating the island's famous stone fisherman's cottages, Essie needs something to do, and they could both use a little Air B&B income to warm their pockets. Mother and daughter slowly bond over the shared challenge, which delivers some much-needed revelations for Essie, and offers Janey a surprise second chance at love as well. "If I could live in a Jenny Colgan novel, I'd be happy forever." -- bestselling author Jill Mansell

The perfect London read for this summer! Angela's back on home turf - and in her biggest romantic scrape yet... Angela Clark has fallen in love with New York - and it's starting to love her back. But when she's summoned home to London, she's at risk of losing her shiny new life to never-ending English rain, warm beer and bad memories. Talk about stepping back in time There's Mark, the ex-boyfriend - who she ran to New York to get away from. There's Louisa, her best friend, with her terrifying new baby. And there's her mum, still talking to her as though she's fifteen. Now there's a wedding in the offing - and everyone remembers how well Angela behaved at the last one. . . Can the arrival of boyfriend Alex and best friend Jenny save her from a re-run of her old self?

Don't miss this very special standalone novel in the Love Heart Lane series. Previously published as Evie's Year of Taking Chances but now rewritten and improved by the author! Love, life, and libraries Growing up in foster care, Elle Cooper always felt a piece of herself was missing. Now, as her thirtieth birthday approaches, she's ready to find it. But when instigating the search for her birth mother leads to a whole host of unexpected events, this librarian's quiet life suddenly gets very loud! With new friends, old flames and surprising influences keeping Elle busy, she soon starts to see that there's more to life than where you came from - and that where you are right now, and who you have in your corner, is what might just matter most of all... Love Heart Lane - where friends are there for you no matter what

Another page-turning story of tragedy and triumph from the No.1 bestselling author of The Loner and The Journey. In the sleepy Lancashire village of Salmesbury, childhood sweethearts Emily and John are secretly planning a life together when they are cruelly forced apart. Already abandoned by her father, and unhappy at home, Emily is heartbroken when John leaves the village. Her life takes a devastating turn for the worse when she gives birth to a child. She dare not reveal the identity of the child's father or there will be a terrible price to pay. Many miles away, John is trying to forget Emily and forge a new life. Having carried her in his heart for years, a chance encounter leads him to believe she has forgotten him. Emily has never been able to banish thoughts of John. But when it looks as though history is about to repeat itself, Emily must put the past – and John – behind her and safeguard her daughter. But can she forget him?

One of Purewow’s “Best Beach Reads of Summer 2018”Winner for Best Book of 2018 of the Fresh Fiction Awards!New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins is beloved for her heartfelt novels filled with humor and wisdom. Now, she tackles an issue every woman deals with: body image and self-acceptance.Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults. For each of them, that means something different. For Marley, it's coming to terms with the survivor's guilt she's carried around since her twin sister's death, which has left her blind to the real chance for romance in her life. For Georgia, it's about learning to stop trying to live up to her mother's and brother's ridiculous standards, and learning to accept the love her ex-husband has tried to give her. But as Marley and Georgia grow stronger, the real meaning of Emerson's dying wish becomes truly clear: more than anything, she wanted her friends to love themselves. A novel of compassion and insight, Good Luck With That tells the story of two women who learn to embrace themselves just the way they are.

‘Be whisked away in this sunny, heartwarming read’ Woman’s Own ‘I adored it’ Milly Johnson ‘Enchanting and wonderfully romantic’ Cathy Bramley ‘I adored it. The perfect summer read!’ Lesley Pearse Grace Quinn loves her job at Cohen’s Convenient Storage Company, finding occasional treasure in the forgotten units that customers have abandoned. Her inquisitive nature is piqued when a valuable art collection and a bundle of letters and diaries are found that date back to the 1930s. Delving deeper, Grace uncovers the story of a young English woman, Connie Levine, who follows her heart to Italy at the end of the Second World war. The contents also offer up the hope of a new beginning for Grace, battling a broken heart and caring for her controlling mother. Embarking on her own voyage of discovery, Grace’s search takes her to a powder pink villa on the cliff tops overlooking the Italian Riviera, but will she unravel the family secrets and betrayals that Connie tried so hard to overcome, and find love for herself?

When she moves to Amish country to find peace and healing, Madeleine finds a special community--and a special man--who pull her out of her solitude and into a new life. Moving to Pennsylvania wasn't in Madeleine's original plans. She should still be in California and should have married her pilot fiancé a year ago--but death has a way of changing everything. Now the former Air Force flight nurse is living alone in Paradise, Pennsylvania, and working as a maid at the Lancaster Grand Hotel. She isn't exactly a widow . . . but she sure feels like one. Saul Beiler isn't exactly a widower . . . but his wife is long gone. His eleven-year-old daughter, Emma, doesn't know that her mother fled the Amish community--and married another man--but she does know that her dat is lonely, and that a pretty young maedel just moved in next door. Madeleine's numb heart begins to thaw as she spends more time with the innocent and ever optimistic Emma. The stronger her friendship grows with the young girl, the more intrigued Madeleine grows about the humble, strong man raising her on his own. But even as a strange attraction pulls Saul and Madeleine across a stark cultural divide, they--and everybody around them--have to wonder: What could they possibly have in common besides heartache? Will love allow Madeleine to finally find the home she's been dreaming of all along?

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything... LOSE YOURSELF FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN THIS ESCAPIST, ROMANTIC READ ABOUT FAMILY, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, FROM THE MILLION-COPY AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR. One summer on a beautiful island could change everything... Valentina Taylor's life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train - a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they're never far from one another...Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place - and people - that she loves.Valentina knows she must confront her heart's desires - but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves? Lose yourself in a heartfelt story of second chances, love, and self-discovery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.