We are introduced to the main character of Beth straight away in the story. Her pride and joy is her beloved Martini Club – but her dream may soon may be over, as the Martini Club is struggling with a fall in turnover and developers who are always knocking on the door.

Amongst all the chaos, a familiar face from Bell’s past turns up in the shape of her ex husband – Bell has not seen him for such a long time, and is momentarily thrown.

As much as Bell is a strong, feisty and independent lady, she soon comes to realise that to save her beloved Martini Club, she will need to the one thing that she struggles with – asking for help. Along the way, there are surprises and disasters, and Bell soon discovers that there is so much more to life.

This may be the 3rd book in the series but i can easily be read as a standalone. The main characters from the previous two were far more bit parts in this, so no prior knowledge needed.

That being said why wouldn't you want to catch up on the fabulous Martini Club before starting this one!

In this book we get to really get to know Arabella the owner of The Martini Club where in a series of coincidences all manner of blasts from the past appear.

We get to see beneath her outer appearance and see a different side to her character, which was quite touching to read,

Any book set in a burlesque club and featuring Martinis is always going to be a winner for me, and this is certainly an excellent addition to the series, as we see that Arabella never gives up!

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a complicated character Bel has turned out to be. As the story develops you see more and more of her vulnerability which she has hidden beneath the glittering armour plating of her persona, Arabella Hailstone. Nothing about Bel is straightforward, especially not her relationship with her mother. Of course, Bel is not the only one who is hiding insecurities and doubts as you discover as the novel unfolds.

Reinvention seems to be something Bel is good at and she is forced to rethink her beloved Martini Club when it is under threat. I found the descriptions of the club to be vivid and could easily visualise the place as it sparkled and glittered at night-time. Although it is very much her baby, she has to learn to take others' views on board and to let other people help her. With a cast of individuals and several strands to the story, it is a fitting final book in the Martini Series although the door is left open for more.

In short: A stylish story with warmth beneath the glitz.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

I love AL Michael’s writing. So witty and authentic. I love the style of her characters and the way London features so heavily in her work. I’m looking forward to whatever she writes next.

I was not aware that this was the 3rd book of a trilogy and its last. However i do not feel as though i missed out on anything really as every situation was fully explained.

Anabel Stone is a burleque club owner, she used to be married but legged it and has been solo ever since. The club gets into trouble and Bel has to pull out all of the stops to save it. ALong the way her mother moves in, her ex husband turns up and she discovers the love of her life quite by chance in a basement club.

This was a good book and kept me engaged throughout. I will probably buy the other 2 in the series just to tie the story together but this can be read as a stand alone.

A few months ago I was lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for Prosecco and Promises, part of A.L. Michael's Martini Club series. I enjoyed that so much that when I was offered the chance to review the next in the series, Martinis and Memories, I was keen as mustard.

Bel Hailstone is very much in control: she's escaped her mediocre life as Annabelle Stone, built her burlesque club business from nothing, and has cultivated an entirely new persona to boot. No longer will she be controlled by her mother, or put-upon by her good-for-nothing husband - she's the queen of the Martini Club and doesn't stand for any nonsense.

However, business is slowing. They aren't attracting the numbers they used to, and developers are circling like vultures, keen to buy her beloved club and turn it into flats. A dreadful review only adds to Bel's misery. Can it get worse? Well, yes, actually, it can. When her ex-husband, her mother and the boy she was infatuated with as a teenager all make unexpected returns to her life, Bel is forced to confront the past she escaped from, while fighting to save the future she had envisioned.

A.L. Michael is extremely adept at writing characters who have been forced to develop an outer shell. Bel is no exception - she openly admits to having created a work identity, including a costume and an accent that fits the part she plays. She also seems to enjoy that she intimidates some of her staff; she has very exacting standards and only accepts the highest quality, from her cocktails to her performer's routines. Honestly, the Bel we are immediately presented with in this book isn't one I found very likeable.

However, the gentle unrolling of Bel's memories give you an insight into the past she has run from, and why the wall has been built up around her. I particularly enjoyed her relationship with her mum - there can be a lot of complexity in the interactions between mothers and daughters. Michael managed to capture this in a highly realistic way: their relationship is fractured, infuriating, and yet they have so much to learn from each other. Past resentments are often huge roadblocks in families, so I really loved reading about these two learning how to navigate their relationship together.

Watching Bel let her guard down, remove the Arabella Hailstone mask and start to embrace the woman underneath her strict, perfectionist, work identity was surprisingly moving. I think a lot of us can relate to having to put on somewhat of an act in life, for whatever reason. I really loved seeing Bel begin to realise that it is okay to ask for - and accept - help, and that you don't need to be in control all the time. Her feistiness and confidence is impressive and all, but a bit of vulnerability actually ends up improving her life, which I think is a really important message to share.

I said this in my last review, but I really love that Michael creates characters who are so well-rounded. It's far too common for the women in some novels to only seem to care about love and romance, but Bel is not that kind of character. She has dreams and ambitions that are incredibly important to her and isn't just waiting around for 'the perfect man'. She also creates some brilliant secondary characters. In this novel Jacques in particular stood out to me. I'd kill for a friend like him, haha!

I also really love Michael's style of writing. It's perfectly paced, engrossing, and as intimate as talking to a friend. There are some books that feel more like TV shows - like you are actually watching the story unfold rather than reading. Michael's books are definitely in that category for me. They are fun, easy reads without being predictable or over-simplified. I can absolutely race through them because I just really enjoy reading them. There was a tiny bit of repetitiveness towards the end of this book, but overall I absolutely loved reading this.

Martinis and Memories is part of the Martini Club series, but can be read as a stand alone novel. For fans of the series, however, the return of some familiar characters is a lovely way to tie the trilogy together.

Bel is precisely the type of woman you'd expect to be running a successful, burlesque club in London; confident, glamorous and fierce. The truth is somewhat different; she paints her confident air and glamorous appearance on with her make-up. Her hard persona hides, a broken heart, a head full of insecurities engendered by her mother, who she never seemed to please and her love of her employees who she considers family.

Bel's story is about learning to trust and the realisation that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Her relationship with her mother is an integral part of her story, and the development of their relationship adds emotional depth to the story.

Vividly described the 'Martini Club's' importance to Bel comes across. The romance in this story is not immediately apparent, but when it makes an appearance, it's worth the wait.

A fitting end to the 'Martini Club' series full of memories and mistakes and the power of forgiveness, loyalty and love. 'Martinis and Memories is an engaging read with believable, memorable characters and a fairytale ending.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Bel is proud of her burlesque club, she put her heart and soul into it, but now developers want to buy the club and build something now. Everything she has worked for is now in danger.

On top of that her almost ex-husband shows up, her mother too, who gets involved in everything and Brodie Porter, the love of her life.

Her staff is great and I loved, how she had a connection to them and how they were all there to help her.

This is book three of the Martini Club series and there are some characters we know from previous books. I loved this and I really think that this series has a lot of charm. It can totally be read as a standalone though.

A.L. Michael’s writing is fresh, funny and just fabulous! Bel is a strong and passionate character, I really like what Michael did with her. The book is about living your dream and fighting for it, but it’s also about love, family and friendship. The perfect mixture!

Martinis & Memories' is the third book in the Martini Club series which can be read as a standalone. I was not familiar with the first two but that was not a pleasure spoiler. Sure, some of the characters from the previous books appear towards the end and by the looks of it, they seemed to have some interesting stories. Well, that is two more books I need to add to my TBR pile :)
The story revolves around Bel Hailstone, the owner of Martini Club who has reworked herself into a glittering personality. My first impression of her was nothing great. In fact, I had the very same opinion of the newspaper reviewer who slandered her and the club. She appeared shallow and artificial. But too soon, my feelings took a reverse gear once we are introduced into the not that pretty life of Bel. An insatiable and unfeeling mother, a broken heart and a good for nothing husband from whom she eventually ran away -- I was completely in awe of her gumption.
I loved her more because she took a step forward to forgive and to mend the ties with her mother. There were a bit too many coincidences in the story that was hard to accept, like all the unsolved problems of the past come knocking together. It is nothing short of a miracle. Nothing to be surprised though, if Paulo Coelho is to be believed because "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it".

Having loved the first two books in the Martini Club series, I was so pleased to be able to read book three, especially as it focuses on exactly the person I hoped it would, Bel Hailstone, owner of the legendary Martini Club. You don't need to have read the previous books as they all work as standalone reads, but there are a few crossover characters.

We see a very different, more vulnerable side to Bel in Martini and Memories. Having spent the last eight years building up the club and escaping her past, it all returns at once and takes her unawares. For the first time in ages she feels cast adrift by everything that's happening to her and her strong facade crumbles away.

I really felt for Bel but I loved how, once she learned to accept a bit of help, everyone rallied round and showed how much they respected and loved her. The Martini Club sounds like the perfect place to work where everyone is part of a family. I particularly liked Sam, her landlord and father figure. Also, it was great to see the return of Jacques, her right-hand man at the club.

With a focus on burlesque, the club came across as a quite amazing place. The author puts it across so well and her descriptions of the clothes, the surroundings, the food and the cocktails made me wish I could see the place for myself.

I loved Bel's sass and style. She'd be a fantastic friend to have. In fact, there are so many wonderful people in A.L. Michael's series. This final instalment was a real pleasure from start to finish, an easy read but one with lots of layers.

This is the story of Bel Hailstone; her memories, her failures and her dreams... She will have to face some very important decisions in just a few time; her business is not going as good as she would like, her mother has decided to "help" her, her "husband" has decided to return to her life after ten years, and her first love... So many fires open, but Bel is a strong woman and maybe with a few tears and difficult decisions she will do the best she can to continue living her dreams... Ready for a big Martini?
Let me say that this had been a sweet read, Bel is a strong woman but doesn't believe in herself or the love or friendship all her business workers have toward her. This is a book to teach us the importance of friendship and that even if we don't always believe it, there's always someone in our life that loves us and tries to take care of us.
I loved Bel's character, the way she step by step flourishes and discovers the importance of friendship in her life, all her co-workers make the book like a big family where everyone has their part in the business and in Bel life.
Of course while we enter to the story we will discover her past; her life with her mother (let me say "special" is a nice word), her husband and how their marriage was... and of course the first love... they say you never forget it... Will it be true too for Bel?
This book has left me with a smile on my face after reading it, of course Bel will not have the perfect dream she was hoping, but nothing is perfect and that makes life more interesting, don't you think?

I loved Prosecco and Promises, the second book in The Martini Club Trilogy, so when I had the chance to read this for the blog tour I couldn’t wait to get started.
Bel is such a fabulous character who I rooted for from the first page. I loved her gusty personality and admired her tenacity when faced with so many unexpected developments.
As I found out more about her past I liked her even more, even wanting to get on board helping her save ‘The Martini Club’ and sort things out in her personal life.
Once again I loved the way the author managed to transport me to London and make me care about what happened to her characters. By the time I finished reading this I felt like I knew them all so well and didn’t want to leave them at the end.
I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a book with characters you can believe in and a plot to get involved with.

Bel has owned the Martini Club, a Soho burlesque club for 10 years and is a very strong woman who lives for the club..... but things are not going well, the club has financial problems and there is a developer knocking on the door...... can she turn things around and save her club and will her mother, ex husband and childhood friend be a help or a hindrance!

A great finale of the series, it was good to hear Bel's story and meet the new characters, I especially loved Sam.... I recommend the whole series

Martinis and Memories is the third and last installment in A.L.Michael's Martini Club series. I really enjoyed the first two books and could not wait for this one. Anabella "Bel" Hailstone moved to London a decade ago to start again and found herself managing The Martini Club, a burlesque club in London's popular and thriving Soho area. She is a hard boss who secretly loves her work. She is a very strong, centred person who really values those who treat her right.

Life is interrupted for her when her ex Euan, then her mother and also a valued past love arrive throughout the story. These characters all have different effects on Bel and her mother is really annoying. She is critical, outspoken and self-centred which contrasts with Bel's personality. Will she and Bel ever be able to have a decent mother-daughter relationship?

Sam, Bel's American, ex-rockstar turned photographer landlord, resident in London for the past 20 years and Jacques are favourite characters of mine. I also really liked Aria, who has just arrived to work at the bar. Sam and Jacques are so approachable and caring, they are the kind of people I would like to know. I like Bel too.

There's another hiccup in Bel's life when the restaurant gets a bad review and Bel struggles to step back and see what other people see. She was struggling with the club's inner workings and the image she wanted it to portray and instead finds herself trying to fix things about herself in addiition to that.

Martinis and Memories is a tale of friendship, secrets lies priorities forgiveness and finding your true road to happiness. As with all A.L. Michael's books, this one has a pace that sucked me in all the way through and feels just like real life so much so that I almost forgot it was a book. A.L. Michael goes so deep into the characters' lives, hopes fears and insecurities that you can't help but not identify with, and feel for, them. I was rooting for them all but especially Bel. I was so glad she had Sam to confide in after work was done for the day.

I cannot praise this book, or the series, enough. The writing, characters and pace are exquisite. I had thought that this book could be a standalone as there are references to past events and people, but if you want all the ins and outs of the goings on at the Martini Club and the people involved in the series, start at the beginning. I love this series so much that I could just go right back through it over and over. There are some especially powerful memories between Brodie and Bel, who were best friends as a teenager.

A huge thanks to A.L. Michael and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I'm honoured to take part in the blog tour for this title. I'm sad the series has ended and it, as well as the entire Martini Club series, is one of the best in its genre in my opinion.

Rating 4.5/5

I’m so glad we finally get to properly meet Bel, she has been up to this point an enigmatic addition to the other stories so it was lovely to get under her skin.

She was a bit of a surprise, in the best way of course, whilst I knew that she probably put on a bit of a persona it was great to see the other dimension of her and find out what brought her to where she is. There is a lot of growth in this book for her character and it felt kind of fitting, since I believe this is the last book in this series, that it is left with this feeling of progress and hope.

It was great to revisit some characters that we’ve met before through the previous books, it does always feel like you’re checking in with good friends. On this occasion, it was also nice to get to know some new faces, in wonderful characters like Sam and Brodie, who were favourites of mine. Although it has to be said I did enjoy the cheeky chappy Euan for the tension he could bring to a scene.

There is a lot of delving into Bel’s past and I found that I was really interested in what came before The Martini Club and why she has felt the need to be so aloof. It made for an engrossing story, I managed to fly through this book and was really disappointed when I was getting closer to the end just because I didn’t want it to.

Martinis And Memories was a pleasure to read, Bel was a strong character but with enough vulnerability to keep you guessing and a cast of characters that felt like family, throw in an engaging storyline and an easy style of writing, what’s not to love! I will definitely be on the lookout for the next A.L Michael book.

WOW! I devoured this in less than a day! You will be routing for the Martini Club, her owner and staff from page one!!! Just when you think all is lost...well...NO SPOILERS...read the book!!!

If you haven't read the first 2 books in the series...get a wiggle on!

I loved the first book in this series, Cocktails and Dreams, so eagerly anticipated reading this third in series sequel which features Bel Hailstone, the owner of the Martini Club. This is a story which explores her past, present and dreams of the possible future . . . .

Bel’s pride and joy is the Martini Club but it is now under threat from falling turnover, threatening developers and the arrival of people from the past she thought she’d left behind. There’s her super controlling Mum who tried to make Bel live her own dreams of becoming a renowned dancer, her first love and her almost ex-husband all coming back into her life at possibly the worst time - or is it? Bel is a feisty, highly independent lady, acting as a strict, firm but fair boss who stands no nonsense but she’ll need help to keep the Martini Club running and successful - but will she accept it? There are surprises, disaster and more in this story of life, relationships and dreams . . . sometimes it takes time to discover the silver linings in life struggles and finding them can make the struggles feel worth it in the end.

The story does include characters from the previous books but still works well as a standalone. Get ready to enter the colourful world of burlesque, cocktails and dreams when you read this enticing story which has a delightful, happy ending - eventually!

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

This was my first book by A.L. Michael and it won't be my last.

The story of Bel and the Martini Club is powerful! There's intrigue, romance, comedy, alcohol, burlesque and plenty of drama. What's not to love?!

Arabella Hailstone is a powerhouse of a woman who has worked so hard to get where she is, the owner of MC and a woman not to be messed with. She enjoys the finer things in life and she tells it like it is. But something is missing and a week full of coincidences helps her to see past the fierce exterior she has created for herself and begin to see what's missing and learn who she really is.

When reading this book I did nit realise that it was the third book in the Martini Cub Series but it did not matter as the book stands alone.
A fabulous story of one women’s determination to fulfil her dreams and hearts desire regardless of what obstacles stand in her way.
It is a book about love and courage to become your own person whatever the cost.
Just loved it .

This is the first book I have read from the Martini Club series but luckily that didn't affect my enjoyment at all. Bel is a burlesque club owner and quite a larger than life character on the surface but she very much sees her work persona as someone quite separate from the 'real' her. She has an uneasy relationship with her mum and feels like a typical loner, not having any close friends - or does she? People from her past, problems with the club and a series of coincidences cause her to reevaluate what's important in life and to start to build a happier future.

I love Bel as a character, feisty, outspoken but with a definitely vulnerable side (when she chooses to show it), she is a woman I would be happy to share a martini or two with! I read this novelette all in one go and enjoyed being dusted with a little bit of the Martini Club's glitter. Fun, escapist read.