Kevin and Carrie have been running a restaurant together for 10 years and she thought they were happy..... until the young Brazilian waitress Valentina runs off with Kevin! Showing true strength she carries on working in the restaurant and gradually starts to rebuild her life and make new friends.... Kevin has lost the best thing in his life!

Another lovely story by this author who is becoming a favourite of mine, Carrie is a great character, strong but kind and compassionate whereas Kevin is a worm who deserves all he gets and it is great to watch Carrie grow as the book goes on, recommended

The Blurb :
After ten years together, Carrie Nolan is devastated when she's dumped by her hot-shot chef boyfriend, Kevin Mulvey without even a backwards glance! But on reflection, she has sacrificed her own long-term happiness by pandering to his excessive ego in their successful Dublin restaurant (and out of it) – but not anymore!
While Kevin is 'living the dream' with his beautiful new Brazilian girlfriend, Carrie seeks solace from a circle of mismatched strangers who need her as much as she needs them.
With Christmas just around the corner, all is not quite as it seems and a catastrophic sequence of events leads to the unthinkable.

My Thoughts :
Here we meet couple Carrie Nolan and Kevin Mulvey, both owners of The Sea Pear restaurant and together for many years. Carrie is devastated when she finds out that Kevin has started an affair with their Brazilian waitress Valentina. Kevin and Valentina move in together whille Carrie stays in the house and continues to work at the restaurant. But has Kevin bitten off more than he can chew and is the grass any greener!?.
As Carrie learns to move on, we tackle grief, loss, being alone, emotions and starting over.
I really enjoyed the charactors and storyline, this is a lovely Christmas read. Faith Hogan held my interest throughout and I loved that there was other things going on aswell. Looking to more from this Author.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Sometimes you don't know what you had until it is gone. A situation Kevin only too well is familiar with. Spoilt and used to getting his own way he thinks he's destined for greatness, especially with the incredibly beautiful Valentina on his arm. I mean he was always going to do better than Carrie as she just wasn't up to par.

What Happened to Us is written with style and flair and I was pulled into the storyline from the beginning and didn't resurface for air until the concluding pages. I don't think I've ever loved and hated characters as much as I did with this book which is a testament to the excellent writing skills of Faith Hogan. I think I even screamed in frustration at the pages a fair few times at Kevin's sheer gall, he certainly is a piece of work. Then on the flip side, there's Carrie, the easiest to love character you could ever hope to meet, who grabs your support from page one and doesn't let go. Her story is of pure resilience and bravery and what a character, I was rooting for her every step of the way. My favourite connection in the book came in the form of Jane and Luke's relationship, two lost souls finding each other at exactly the right moment touched my heart and added additional sentiment and love to the story.

What happened to us is full to the brim of delicious storytelling and style, I loved every minute of it. I couldn't recommend this book highly enough and it's a testament to that age-old statement that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

This is a wonderful, sweet and thoughtful story that has a strong sense of love, friendship and family, it leaves the reader feeling immensely warm and cosy, plus hugely satisfied. This is the first I have read my Ms Hogan, really I have been missing out on something here, she is an exceptional story teller who has takes the reader on an emotional journey as we temporally walk in the shoes of her strong and kind heroine; Carrie.

Carrie, what an extraordinary woman, she really is sweetness and kindness incarnate, suddenly is told by her weasly boyfriend Kevin that after ten years in their relationship he is leaving her for another woman. But not just any woman, a twenty year old goddess and the new waitress at their restaurant “the Sea pear”. For ten years they have been happily plodding along, living together, working together and for him to suddenly come and not just break what they had together, but to smash it to smithereens and then to top it Carrie must work side by side with the wretch and his floozy as they parade around shoving their so called ‘love’ in her face. I got to say that Carrie is a much better woman then me, the fact that she didn’t throw a pan at him is a testament to her good nature.

But all is not so well in both camps, and with a few mishaps along the way we soon see just how amazing strong and resilient Carrie is and just how much of a useless waste of space, Kevin was. With the help of her two friends; June who works across the road in the pub, and stranger Luke who suddenly appears in her life both of her best friend have heartaches and not to mention woman best friend Carries little dog; Teddy who she finds in the street, who as we all know dogs can be valuable support when needed, with their continued help and support of her three companions Carries finds the strength to face the world alone.

This is brilliant, the characters are beautifully written – even the love to hate them Kevin and his strumpet Valentina, I love that word don’t you; Strumpet? 😉 Ms Hogan has got the character’s personalities perfectly , Kevin he is a useless wretch, he is the most pathetic man I have ever come across – I’m surprised he can get dressed himself and Valentina, well I’m going to say it again – strumpet! Carrie though, she really is a marvel Ms Hogan has written her perfectly, I love her resilience her spirit and her kindness and the friendship between June and Luke is both touching and real.

This is a book that you will sit down and curl up with again and again\, it is comforting and enjoyable and highly recommended and I am looking forward to reading more from Faith Hogan. The message I got from this was that with true friends by your side and with a kind heart no matter what you face you will win.

An uplifting Christmas chick-lit story. Loved the Dublin setting.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A really enjoyable read. The character of Carrie is so likeable you want everything to work out well for her. Kevin is an idiot and deserves everything he gets!

Carrie Nolan has been with her boyfriend, Kevin, for ten years when he dumps her for another woman, the stunning Valentina.

Luckily, Carrie sees the silver lining right away; she has catered to Kevin for far too long and now it’s time for her to live her life the way she wants.

A series of bad things happen,and Carrie needs her family and friends now more than ever. Luckily Carrie has a cast of supportive friends, and guess what else? She has a blog!

Set during Christmas, What Happened to Us is a comforting, cozy read. It features themes of friendship, love, and family. I loved to loathe Kevin and Valentina, and I easily rooted for warm and likable Carrie throughout. Watching her evolve as a character was uplifting, as was the ending to this lovingly-crafted book. Faith Hogan has a new fan!

Thanks to Aria and the author for the invitation to participate on the blog tour, as well as for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful story about finding your place and making change - not always initiated by you. It's quite sad at it's core, there is loss and grief but it's all beautifully interwoven with peace and love, romance and family. Such a heady mix is much deeper and more moving than I was expecting - it's an absolute joy to read and a triumph of writing.

Carrie Nolan is ceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend Kevin after 10 years together. They both run a successful restaurant together where he’s the hot-shot chef, but not only is he leaving Carrie but he’s leaving her for one of their waitresses, the younger and very beautiful Valentina. Carrie is obviously hurt and betrayed, but the situation is made worse by the fact that they still have to all work together. Carrie seeks solace in a group of strangers who she meets, but finds that they all have their own problems to work out also….

Shamefully this is my first book by this author, but after reading this book it definitely won’t be the last. This was the perfect story in so many ways. It was nice and easy to read, the storyline wasn’t overly complicated, the characters were all extremely likeable (apart from the obvious!) and it was set just before Christmas so great for this time of year!

Carrie was an absolutely wonderful character! I think I would have broken down, left the restaurant and never wanted to see Kevin again, but she held her head up high and carried on running the restaurant alongside both of them no matter how difficult it must have been for her. She is definitely the kind of person that you want to be friends with and be there for, because you know that she will always be there for you! I loved the way that Carrie began to move on, whilst others obviously found that things aren’t always that easy and perhaps the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Carrie’s new friends, Jane and Luke (and of course, Teddy!) left me feeling so happy that Carrie had met them and I loved the relationship that she had with them.

A beautiful heart-warming story of love, loss, friendship and, most importantly, how to start all over again. Wonderful characters, beautiful setting and such amazing writing. Highly recommended!

Paraphrasing one of this months’ titles: “Oh, my stars.” It just happens that this women’s fiction column is almost all Christmas stories (I think there is one that isn’t). Which is fine and dandy — because you can read them now, then read them again in December or put them back and pull out one of these heartwarming tales when you just can’t bake another batch of cookies, or wrap another present, or decorate another room. Still, no matter the season, all explore the gift of love and friendship.
The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan
What it’s about:
In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high…
Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke…
As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas?
The right stuff: Complex family relationships caused by past trauma are resolved in this heartwarming tale. Perfect assembled cast of characters. (See an excerpt on HEA from The Christmas Sisters.)
The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere
What it’s about:
Thirty-two-year-old Amy Denison volunteers at Glory’s Place, an after school program where she meets seven-year-old Maddie, a precocious young girl who has spent her childhood in foster care. Unbeknownst to Amy, Maddie is a mini-matchmaker, with her eye on just the right man for Amy at Grandon Elementary School, where she is a student. Amy is hesitant – she’s been hurt before, and isn’t sure she’s ready to lose her heart again – but an unexpected surprise makes her reconsider her lonely lifestyle.
As Christmas nears and the town is blanketed in snow and beautiful decorations, Maddie and the charming staff at Glory’s Place help Amy to see that romance can be more than heartache and broken promises.
In The Christmas Star, Donna VanLiere delivers yet another sweet, joyous story that is sure to capture readers’ hearts.
The right stuff: Christian romance book with a heartfelt message of new beginnings and a wonderful second-chance-at-love story.
What Happened to Us? by Faith Hogan
What it’s about:
Sometimes the end is only the beginning…
After ten years together, Carrie Nolan is devastated when she’s dumped by her hot-shot chef boyfriend, Kevin Mulvey without even a backwards glance! But on reflection, she has sacrificed her own long-term happiness by pandering to his excessive ego in their successful Dublin restaurant (and out of it) – but not anymore!
While Kevin is ‘living the dream’ with his beautiful new Brazilian girlfriend, Carrie seeks solace from a circle of mismatched strangers who need her as much as she needs them.
With Christmas just around the corner, all is not quite as it seems and a catastrophic sequence of events leads to the unthinkable.
How far do you need to fall before you learn the true value of family and friends? And is it ever too late to start again…
The right stuff: Spot-on feel-good book. Great characters, wonderful serendipitous reunion and a special bit of karma.
A Healing Justice
by Kristin von Kreisler
What it’s about:
Two years ago, police officer Andrea Brady fell madly in love with a black-muzzled, slightly rumpled German shepherd who showed up at her house one misty autumn day. Now, with the brave and intuitive Justice as her expert K-9 drug sniffer, she’s found an unbeatable partner. Then the unthinkable happens. A savage attack leaves a teenager dead and Andie trapped in every cop’s worst nightmare. Placed on administrative leave, she’s pursued by media and investigated by a deputy sheriff whose handling of the high-profile case could earn him a coveted promotion.
Haunted by self-doubt, Andie is in danger of losing everything—her career, her freedom, and the critically injured dog who’s her soul mate. But as she finds kind allies in her Puget Sound island community, the road back becomes a journey of healing for both Andie and her canine companion. And Andie learns important lessons about justice—and about Justice—as she struggles to find the courage to forgive herself and reclaim the gift of her life …
The right stuff: Perfect homage to people in law enforcement, exploring the split decisions that they must make. Another pet lovers’ delight, along with enticing developing romantic relationship.
Oh My Stars by Sally Kilpatrick
What it’s about:
A heartwarming, hilarious Christmas story with a Southern twist.
Like most things in Ellery, Tennessee, this year’s Drive Thru Nativity is a little unconventional. The Dollar General parking lot doubles as a Bethlehem stable, and widowed writer Ivy Long, who’s been roped into playing Mary, sure as heck isn’t a virgin. But then comes an unexpected development: a genuine, real-life baby left in the manger, with only a brief note. And somehow, in the kerfuffle that follows, Ivy finds her life is about to change …
The holidays are a bittersweet time for Ivy—filled with memories of her beloved late husband and reminders that life doesn’t always offer the happily-ever-afters her readers expect. So when Ivy ends up with custody of the baby, she can only chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. She doesn’t know if it will be forever, but with help from family, she’ll make little Zuzu’s first Christmas a good one. The nativity’s Joseph, aka Gabe Ledbetter, has a pediatrics background that’s coming in mighty handy. In turn, Ivy is helping Gabe find his place in the quirky community. If that place turns out to be somewhere near Ivy, well, maybe this particular Christmas story will turn out to be merry and bright after all …
The right stuff: Down-on-their-luck characters get a second chance at love and new beginnings. Quirky and fun with the right amount of pathos!
Mutts and Mistletoe by Natalie Cox
What it’s about:
Thirty-one-year-old Charlie isn’t in the mood for Christmas cheer...
Her boyfriend has left her for his personal trainer, her mother has absconded with her latest husband for the holidays, and—adding insult to (literal) injury—her London apartment has just been destroyed by a gas leak. Single, mildly concussed and temporarily homeless, Charlie realizes there’s only one place to go: Cozy Canine Cottages, where she’ll spend the season looking after her cousin Jez’s doggy day care center. And if she’s not exactly a dog person, well, no one has to know…
But her plans for a quiet Christmas in a quaint country village are quickly dashed. Peggy the pregnant beagle and Malcolm the anxious Great Dane seem determined to keep her up all night. A strange man has been casing her cousin’s house. And where is Cal, the unbearably patronizing but disturbingly handsome local vet, when she needs him?
As the days tick down to Christmas, Charlie’s life has never felt so out of control—but with some help from her new four-legged friends, she just might learn a thing or two about living in the moment, embracing the unexpected and opening herself up to love…
The right stuff: Looking for a little bit zany and a bit of armchair traveling? Then this is the perfect book for you. Pets, humor and romance!
Christmas at the Cat Café
by Melissa Daley
What it’s about:
The town of Stourton-on-the-Hill has its very own cat café. Resident cat Molly, and her kittens, live here in feline paradise, while owner Debbie serves the locals home-made goodies. But even in the most idyllic surroundings, things don’t always go according to plan …
When Debbie’s heartbroken sister Linda arrives at the café, Debbie insists she move in. But Linda is not alone, and the cats are devastated with the arrival of Linda’s dog, Beau. Sadly, Beau’s arrival is not the only bombshell – now Molly’s home is also under threat when a rival cat moves in on her turf.
With Christmas approaching, Molly is unsettled, barely roused by the promise of tinsel to play with. Fearing for her feline family she hopelessly stares out of the café window searching for an answer. Only a Christmas miracle could bring everyone together.
The right stuff: While this is the second book in a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Think cozy, because that is exactly what this story is. Put your own cat in your lap and enjoy!
Leigh Davis is a former contributor to Heroes and Heartbreakers. When she is not reading, she’s usually outside throwing balls to her insatiable dogs. She loves hearing and talking about great books. You can connect with her on Twitter and Goodreads.
MORE ON HEA: See more posts by Leigh

What Happened to Us? is a very sweet, easy read. The characters are all enjoyable to spend your time with, well not so much Valentina and Kevin, part of me was questioning why Carrie had ever stayed with the weasel of a man who couldn’t even buy his own socks!

Although the book begins with a sad time in Carrie’s life, it is about her coming to terms with what has happened and how she moves on, as well as some realisations along the way for other characters.

The book is told in the third person and from numerous points of view. Although not a point of view per se, I enjoyed Kevin’s friend Jim and his wise words, though they often were met with deaf ears.

As the book heads towards Christmas you can tell that something big is building up and I wasn’t disappointed. This is the first book I have read by Faith Hogan, it most certainly won’t be my last. I love how she manages to get you emotionally involved in the story and her scene setting is just amazing. I certainly felt like I was in cold, wet Dublin most of the time. Hot Chocolate and cosy blankets were needed!!

A wonderfully warm and beautifully woven tale which drew me in and left me sighing in bliss...

Carrie Nolan and Kevin Mulvey have lived together for more than ten years; they also run a very successful business together. When Kevin falls in love with another, Carrie is shocked and heartbroken - but will she continue to be his girl Friday?

I had high expectations for this novel, having read the author's previous books, but even then it far exceeded anything I could imagine. There are very few readers who could fail to find a character to empathise with, whilst having others to narrow their eyes at! Gorgeous - every single word; the cover just couldn't be any better AND there's a dog, which everyone knows is one of my favourites in any novel! I don't think I've ever read a book which has been so flawlessly created, and I suspect this is one which will find it's way onto my Christmas reading list for many years to come. A magical story and - dare I say - utter perfection!

Hitting all the right chords, this has left me with that warm fuzzy feeling as I look towards the festive season. From the very beginning I was reminded of the late Maeve Binchy's warm and empathetic writing as well as her skill at entwining several story lines into one huge delightful read. This book, while completely original, is the nearest I have come finding an author to fill her shoes - and those are huge shoes to fill! I really cannot recommend this highly enough - five stars are completely insufficient so five sparkly, golden, shining, dancing ones it shall have to be!

A lovely heartwarming read with a festive edge, the characters are rich in detail and make you interested in their lives, whether you like them or not. Carrie is a strong female lead who you both empathise and admire because she doesn't give up. Teddy the dog is such a courageous character and I would have loved this story for him alone. There is a charming festive thread in this autumn- winter story that intensifies the importance of family, friends and caring for others.  An authentic, emotional story perfect to read at any time of year. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I loved this book, all the characters became so real whilst reading, I so wanted it to have a happy ending, I got a little worried at one point that Carrie might forgive Kevin, but I needn't of worried as she stuck with Luke and the story reached a happy ending

I just devoured this fabulous story. Carrie finds herself dumped by her long term partner both in business and life for their young Columbian waitress which makes working at their restaurant very hard for Carrie indeed.

She's understandably heartbroken but the pain is softened by the gorgeous little pup, Teddy she found at the back of the restaurant and the mysterious stranger who becomes her friend. He has connections to her friend Jane, who owns the pub across the street.

When things go wrong for Kevin he hopes Carrie will have him back but she's moved on from taking care of him and his mother and has forged a new and happy life for herself.

Absolutely brilliant. So loved it.

Carrie and Kevin have a good relationship professionally. Running a very successful restaurant they complement each other. Kevin taking care of the kitchen and Carrie taking care of everything else. In their personal lives, they have got into a rut. Carrie still takes care of all the financial details of their lives and the housekeeping whilst Kevin leads a very relaxed life.

When a bolt from the blue comes in the form of a Colombian waitress that Carrie herself has taken on, Carrie knows she has to get to grips with her life and decide what she wants to do. She has invested herself in the restaurant and does not intend to calmly hand it over (hurrah!). She is also very fond of her small home and offers a fair deal for Kevin who in the throes of love and lust is willing to do anything to make his new love happy. His new love's happiness lies in spending his money as fast as he can make it and she takes him to the cleaners!

The story of how Carrie survives, Kevin barely comes out of the whole thing unscathed but with severe lessons learnt and how Carrie finds a new life and love interest is very happily told. I was very happy for Kevin as there are many Kevins in this world and he got his just desserts!

This book is all about new beginnings and finding the positives in every situation.

Carrie is heartbroken when her boyfriend of 10 years Kevin dumps her for a Brazilian waitress from the restaurant they both run together.

They’ve shared each other’s lives, dreams, families and friends for so long Carrie can’t imagine her life without him.

Distance and reflection slowly changes Carrie’s perspective and she begins to realise that she has been sacrificing her own happiness to pander to Kevin’s needs for a long time.

Kevin begins to realise how much he misses Carrie and all the things she did for him which went unnoticed. His new girlfriend is high maintenance and prone to temper tantrums and he begins to miss the comfortable life he once had.

With Christmas coming up and Carries new friends playing a bigger part in her life decisions are going to have to be made!! But are new beginnings the way forward ? Can happiness emerge from heartbreak? And is the grass ever greener on the other side??

This book is best read under a blanket with a cup of tea!! Beautiful writing by Faith Hogan my first of hers won’t be my last .

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic book.

Overall a good read. I liked Carrie, although perhaps she was a little too saintly. I enjoyed reading how she made changes in her life. I could take or leave Luke. Yes, he was nice, if a bit bland. More time was spent on Kevin, and I don't know if the author intended this (and I know I could well be in the minority here), but I felt sorry for him and found myself hoping he would get back together with Carrie. The author wrote his change of heart really well. Valentina was a good character - annoying of course! I liked Jane and I adored Teddy. Who wouldn't want a Teddy in their life? I thought the ending was a bit too twee, but it's a nice relaxing read, which did keep my interest.

Faith Hogan crafts lovely stories with characters who need a second chance. I love that she takes unlikely relationships, between different generations, and injects friendship and romance into otherwise lonely lives.

I always seem to fall in love with her characters and end up seeing and feeling everything through their eyes.

They are classic comfort, feel-good reads and I come away feeling just a little bit happier and more hopeful for the world we live in.

The bottom line: if you want an emotional plot line and engaging characters to root for then this is a book to dive in to.

Recommended to fans of Cathy Kelly, Sheila O’Flanagan and Patricia Scanlan.