I loved Isabelle Broom’s “A Year and a Day” and was so exited to be given an ARC of her latest book by NetGalley. But I was disappointed to find the book opening with the narrator, Hannah, making a big issue of her five year crush on her boss, Theo, who seems to be literally a Greek god in appearance. I thought, please no, not a chick lit novel.. As in her previous book, the author obviously knows the setting of her book intimately. She has immersed herself in it. There are two lead characters. The obvious one, Hannah, the narrator and the place where most of the story is set, the coastal village of Mojaca in Spain. But where are all the tourists ? This place sounds like total heaven, but the bars, cafes and gift shops must be there because of the tourists. I’ve never been to Mojaca so don’t know how busy it gets, but I’ve been to Prague and know that it was heaving with people which just didn’t come over in the previous book. Because this “village” came over as a very large, oversized Clovelly with added heat and sunlight and I didn’t know it, but was a bit suspicious, I did an internet check. It appears to be a pretty tourist destination with some very large hotels complete with their own huge pools. Not quite what I imagined from reading the book. Again where were all these people ? I felt that it was a little like those travel agents shots of blissful hotel swimming pools with nobody around that just have to have been taken first thing in the morning.

Before I had got half way through I was utterly fed up with the twenty eight year old protagonist’s teenage fantasies. An author capable of such wonderful descriptions of beautiful place,s as in both her previous novel and this, should award herself with a far better plot. She got it right in “A Year and a Day”. After that one I never thought that I would be writing that this was pretty dire. Pure chick lit and I don’t read that. Having requested this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review, I knew that I needed to finish it in order to form a fair opinion, but it was a struggle. If Isabelle Broom can inspire her readers to want to visit the beautiful places she describes, then why can’t she create realistic inspirational characters in a worth while plot too. Someone with her talent owes it to herself.

A lovely read that takes you to the heat of a Spanish village in summer - and the weather is not all that's sizzling! I loved the descriptions of Spain and the characters were deftly brought to life. The ending wasn't contrived or trite so all in all a great romantic read to take on holiday with you or just curl up in front of the fire and dream of heady days to come.

Lovely book. Enjoyed reading about Hannah and the different characters in the book. interesting storyline

Loved this new book from Isabelle Broom as much as "A Year and a Day". Once again there was an interesting cast of characters of different ages. The main theme of the book was about understanding what love is, as opposed to lust, friendship, infatuation, etc. However, there was a whole lot more to it than that and all in a wonderfully described location. Everyone will be booking trips to Mojacar as it sounds idyllic! Hopefully Hannah finds true love at some point ...

I loved this book. The story is about love, friendship and family. It is beautifully written. I could imagine myself there. It is so well written. I have read A Year And A Day and loved it to. With it and also with this book I laughed and I cried and I got totally caught up in the story. A brilliant read and a lovely way to escape for a while.

This is the second book I have read by this Author and her descriptions of the country she rights about makes you feel that you are actually there. This was certainly better than her first book and the main character Hannah reminded me of my own daughter (who has the same name) I would recommend this book to other readers who feel in the need for a feel good book

A delightful ghtful holiday read with a couple of twists.

I've thoroughly enjoyed all of Isabelle Broom's books to date, but 'Then.Now.Always' is her best work to date. Engrossed from the beginning, I devoured this book in 2 sittings...I would have happily read it in one were it not for needing sleep!
As with Isabelle's other earlier work, the setting of the story is very much the focus and becomes almost a character in itself. Her way of describing scenes with sounds,smells, tastes and feelings as well as sight really makes the location come alive; this is something Isabelle has a real talent for. She obviously has a genuine love for the place, which is evident on every page.
The characters are flawed and very realistic, and the story flows very naturally with some unexpected twists. There are some very funny I moments in the book but also some extremely poignant ones.
All in all, a wonderful book which will make a perfect summer read.
I'm now desperate to visit Mojacar!

This follows Hannah who as a teenager spent her summer in Mojacar, Spain. When the opportunity to return to to the area to film a documentary comes up Hannah jumps at the chance. Hannah and her colleagues travel to Spain and begin filming where she meets Elaine who has a story to tell about how she ended up in Mojacar. Hannah's half-sister turns up and needs her help but Hannah has blamed her for everything wrong in her life until they talk and she realises that all is not as it seems.
The description of the area makes you want to go see it for yourself. This a was a good read and I am looking forward to more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. Hannah, the principal character, she made me laugh, shout and also shed a sentimental tear. We see Hannah's relationship with several others: meeting her as a friend, colleague, lover, daughter and sister. We see her at her strongest and her weakest, her most empathetic and most selfish. The side story of Elaine runs alongside the main narrative and I really loved her as a character too - I would have liked a little more of her within the narrative.
I liked the fact that none of the characters in this novel were clearly villain or hero, they were beautifully flawed and every bit as complicated as us humans tend to be. Read the book and meet some friends!

Another good read from Isabelle Broom. I spend most time of the year in Andalucia so jumped at the chance to read and review this her latest book.

It really conjures up the heat and feel of the area it is set in, though the waiters where I live are too busy to flirt as is suggested here.

It's a story of relationships and family issues, nothing new there but the story evolves with some less obvious twists and is easy to enjoy, moving at a steady pace. There are clues as to why a certain person arrived to stay with her half sister and that spoilt the rest of the book for me. Spanish sun has an effect on people and romance is bound to happen, along with sex and heartache sometimes.. This is not a problem and description of the area carry you away for a dose of sun and sangria. Which actually is not always as available as it people think. Most bars find it too much trouble to make these days.

The local history and myths, cave painting and all make it worth reading if you plan to visit Mojacar. I nice holiday read, not complicated, sometimes funny. Well worth buying.

This is the second book I have read by Isabelle Broom, and she has a way of hooking you with her words. She could sell a holiday better than any travel agent.

Then. Now. Always. is a dynamic read about a lady called Hannah who is travelling to Spain with work. They are a small team filming a documentary. Hannah is infatuated with her boss and can't wait to spend more time with her. Tom, her best friend, is the cameraman, and she will be sharing her holiday home with the presenter, Claudette. Hannah hasn't been to Mojacar since she was a teen. She is looking forward to the mystery and adventure the place can offer. When an unexpected guest turns up uninvited Hannah's plans are turned upside down.

5 stars out of 5.

I was gifted this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Be prepared to be whisked away to a perfect wee place in Spain. Reading this book will leave you heading straight for the travel agents to book a holiday.

Hannah is heading on a work trip for a month to Spain, with her boss that she has a big crush on, her best friend Tom and Claudette her colleague.

But with her drama packed life the drama follows her to Spain with the arrival of her half sister Nancy which puts a strain on Hannah's relationships with her colleagues and her best friends Tom and Rachel.

The way the author has described the destination is fantastic and leaves you dreaming of a holiday there, you visualise every part of Hannah's trip and the surroundings are perfect - even when it rains.

This is definitely a book to watch out for this summer.

Review: Then. Now. Always.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Isabelle Broom’s latest book but, at the same time, I was nervous.
It wasn’t that I didn’t think Then. Now. Always. would be good, I knew it would be, but I loved her last book so, SO much and I knew it would obviously be different.
Thankfully it’s a good different. A brilliant different, even. With just enough of the things I loved about A Year And A Day – things that now seem inherent to the way she writes – repeated that my nerves soon settled and enjoyment took over.

Here’s the blurb:

I hope you're ready for an adventure. Twenty-eight year old Hannah certainly is.
She and her colleagues are in Spain for a month to film a documentary, and it's a dream come true. Not least because Hannah will get to spend long summer days with Theo, her boss (and crush).
If only Tom (Hannah's best friend and cameramen) and Claudette (the presenter) would stop getting in the way... Then things become even more complicated when Nancy, Hannah's half-sister arrives. What is she doing here? For once in her life, can't Hannah just have one perfect summer, free of any drama?

Reading one of Isabelle’s books is like opening the door to some new friends. Her characters are so well developed that they seem like real people rather than ones she has conjured from her imagination.
She seems to understand the complexities of human emotion and be able to transfer that so eloquently to the page.
One of the things I really enjoyed about her last book was the way the setting, the historic and beautiful city of Prague, almost became another character.
Isabelle gives the same treatment to the mountain village of Mojacar in southern Spain this time, making it come to life so that I immediately wanted to book a holiday there and maybe get a tattoo too (read the book and you’ll see why).
There is a happy ending but it’s not the perfect, all ends neatly tied one you so often find – and it’s all the better for it.

Format: Kindle.

Price: £4.99.

My rating: Five stars.

Thank you to Penguin (via NetGalley) for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I had read this author's previous books and was so delighted to be able to review this one.
It certainly didn't disappoint. The imagery is wonderful in this book; the sights, sounds and even smells, of Mojacar are so wonderfully depicted, it's almost like being there.
The storyline sounds simple enough, a girl has a crush on her boss, they are away filming in Spain for a month, what will happen? But as always with Isabelle Broom, there is so much more to the story, the characters' stories are all interwoven, and it makes for much more than just what the blurb might suggest.
Beautifully written, with funny and poignant moments, this book is a pleasure to read.
Just one word of warning: it will make you really want to book a holiday after reading it!