And Now You’re Back by Jill Mansell

The most heart-warming novel you’ll read this year … from the Sunday Times bestselling author of IT STARTED WITH A SECRET

One magical winter’s night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended – and he left without even saying goodbye.

Now, thirteen years on, Shay Mason is back.

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.

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 . . .

From the beloved author of IT STARTED WITH A SECRET comes a fabulous new novel about love, friendship and finding the way to your best life.

My Thoughts

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Whenever I hear that Jill Mansell has a new book coming out it always evokes the same level of excitement within me, so when I had the opportunity to read and review this latest book I jumped for joy!.

As the blurb of this book explains, Didi and Shay were once an item, but thirteen years have passed since Shay upped and left without a word, and both Didi and Shay have managed to carry on and live their own lives. Now Didi is the manager of a boutique hotel and is also engaged to Aaron, so really there is very little that she would change about her life right now.

But a spanner is thrown in to the works when Shay returns to the place they both called home after learning that his father Red is dying. This stirs up some rather conflicting emotions inside of her, as she cannot deny the chemistry that is still present between them both, despite how much they both wish to ignore it. But Shay has no intention of staying longer than necessary, especially with the scandal that caused him to flee in the first place still looming over him. But he has made a promise to his father which he fully intends to keep.

As Didi and Shay are thrown in to one another’s lives once again, both of them are left asking themselves what it is they really want from life, as well as uncovering some well kept secrets that have the potential to change everything.

As soon as I began reading this book I just knew it would be one of those stories I lost myself within. The setting in the Cotswolds is absolutely stunning, and brought to life beautifully by Jill Mansell’s fabulous way with words. The story itself is so much more than a typical love story, as we meet a cast of colourful, witty characters that all play a pivotal roll in the flow of the story. Didi is a character who captures your heart immediately. The aftermath of Shay’s departure certainly seemed to take it’s toll on her, but she has come back as a strong willed, successful woman who has paved her own way in life. And then there is Shay, who – despite his somewhat troublesome past and unforgiving departure, somehow manages to win you over in record time. We learn so much about this character as the story progresses, as well as unearthing the reasoning behind his past behaviour. It really didn’t take me long to find myself swooning over him too.

The story flows delightfully from start to finish, with plenty of depth and drama that really keeps you invested to the very last page. This is another absolutely gorgeous story from the marvellous Jill Mansell, and now I have to count down the days until her next novel is released!.

About the Author

*Thank you to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours, Headline Books and Jill Mansell for providing me with a gifted copy of this book in return for my honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own and not influenced in any way.*