Hanging around the station

‘Platform Seven’ – Louise Doughty

Platform Seven at 4am: Peterborough Railway Station is deserted. The man crossing the covered walkway on this freezing November morning is confident he’s alone. As he sits on the metal bench at the far end of the platform it is clear his choice is strategic – he’s as far away from the night staff as he can get.

What the man doesn’t realize is that he has company. Lisa Evans knows what he has decided. She knows what he is about to do as she tries and fails to stop him walking to the platform edge.

Two deaths on Platform Seven. Two fatalities in eighteen months – surely they’re connected?

No one is more desperate to understand what connects them than Lisa Evans herself. After all, she was the first of the two to die.

This book did not deliver in how I expected. I was drawn to the spooky, atmospheric cover but the story itself was quite slow. It took me a while to get into the story and, when the main plot about Lisa really started to develop, I thought the progression was too obvious and subsequently frustrating.

I thought the premise was quite clever with Lisa’s ghost haunting Platform Seven. However, this book is not a traditional ghost story and the way that Lisa moves around the station is linked to those who processed her death. Furthermore, the writer references other characters which I thought added an intensity to the story and Lisa’s after-death experience. It was only until nearly the end that I really appreciated these other references.

Readers are taken back in time, learning about the events leading up to Lisa’s death. When she first meets Matthew, alarm bells rang immediately and I never fully trusted him. I had suspicions about how the plot would develop and when these were proven correct, I felt disappointed that the narrative never surprised me. It definitely lessened the impact of the story. Yet, on the other hand, Lisa’s past was more interesting to read about than the present: in comparison, the time spent around the platform felt timeless and stagnant. Perhaps this is the writer reflecting on the eternity of unrest that Lisa now seems to be experiencing.

This book is about a quest for truth and justice but, to be honest, I found the ending frustrating and not providing enough closure. I was disappointed by how the intensity of the narrative tailed off at the end as we follow Lisa around, interacting once more with characters still living. I did not get the sense of any justice and thought this was what the novel was sorely missing. It made me less keen on the book once I had finished it.

Quite creepy at the start, there are moments when I flew through the story; other times, my eyes flew through the words but they didn’t get absorbed. The pace of the story is not always consistent and I found moments in the novel quite boring. It is a shame the intensity of Lisa’s living life was not transposed to her time at the station, as I think this would have created an even more dramatic plot.

Live life to the full

‘Before We Grow Old’ – Clare Swatman

Some people are just made for each other…

When seven-year-old Fran first met Will they knew instantly that they were made for each other. For eleven years they were inseparable, but then, at the age of eighteen, Will just upped and disappeared.

Twenty-five years later Will is back.

Is fate trying to give them a second chance?

Still nursing the heart break from all those years ago, Fran is reluctant to give Will the time of day. The price Will must pay is to tell the truth – the truth about why he left, the truth about why he’s back…

And Fran has her own secrets to hide. The time has come to decide what Fran and Will really want from life – before it’s too late.

This was a lovely little story that focuses on what is important in life and making sure you take every opportunity. It is incredibly sad and the ending made my eyes water. Despite being such a gloomy subject matter, you cannot ignore the love that also radiates from the pages.

I have read similar books to this one in the past and I found Fran and Will’s check list slightly restrictive to the plot. I wanted there to be more adventure but enjoyed it when the story moved to Cornwall for a while. The reconnection of Fran and Will after their separation was really heart-warming and I liked how the writer moved back to the past so readers get an understanding of everything this pair have been through.

It is an intense read and when the story moves to the past, I found it made the present even more poignant. You cannot help but sympathise with Will as he tries to make his mistakes right again but Will is no the only guilty party. Swatman’s revelations about Fran shows that she is an equal to past regrets. She finds herself in situations where to is forced to admit her actions and some of these were surprising plot developments. However, I found they just added to the building emotions of the overall story.

Despite the undercurrent of sadness, Swatman breaks this up with entertaining scenes, such as the Krispy Kremes moment and at the restaurant. These were well-needed and added some light relief to a story that encourages its readers to evaluate their own life choices and ensure every moment is lived to the full. I also liked seeing how Will and Fran’s families come together: a unity that is especially needed towards the end of the story.

Whilst you do need to have the tissues to hand, I enjoyed this wholesome read about separated teenage sweethearts and the developments that have happened to each character in between their reunion.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Camping at Juniper Meadows

‘Come Rain or Shine’ – Sarah Bennett

There are worse fates than growing up knowing that you will one day inherit a vast and magnificent Cotswolds country estate, but for Rhys Travers it has always felt like a huge responsibility.

Juniper Meadows is home to much of his extended family, not to mention the many local businesses that operate on the estate, so there’s no time to sit back and enjoy the view. Juniper Meadows is a full-time job, and that doesn’t leave much time for romance…

Tasha Blake’s career leaves no time for romance either – much to her mother’s chagrin. Tasha’s sister Danni has kindly provided two grandchildren, but Victoria Blake is keen for more! When her job takes her to Juniper Meadows for an extended project, the slower pace of life, the beauty of the countryside and the warmth of the Travers family, soon has Tasha in its thrall, and the future Lord of the Manor Rhys Travers is rather easy on the eye too.

As the busyness of life on the estate sweeps Tasha and Rhys along, they are both able to ignore the secrets and silences that are growing between them. But when the future of Juniper Meadows hangs in the balance, loyalties and love are tested to breaking point. When the chips are down, can Rhys and Tasha see a future together, come rain or shine…

Another great read from Bennett, I am looking forward to seeing how this series concludes. At first I was a bit concerned that this book would be an echo of the previous stories, but I found that Bennett still threw in some surprises and kept this a sweet, easy and entertaining read – everything I was looking for.

Definitely this is one where reading the other books helps you understand the background to the characters. I hadn’t realised how many people there were at Juniper Meadows until I saw the opening character list! In this story, we see newcomer, Tasha, start working with Rhys Travers, helping him establish the camping side of the estate. I liked that the writer moved to a different aspect of Juniper Meadows, whilst seeing familiar faces from the previous books make an appearance. This certainly reinforced that community feel that I recognised in the previous book.

However, Tasha has not been honest with the Travers family and readers know that it is only a matter of time before she will need to confess that her employment at Juniper Meadows is, essentially, to help her boss spy on the business with a move to buying it. I liked the revelations that showed the connection between her boss and Tasha’s new job, as well as whether she would be judged by the Travers family. Whilst you can predict there will be another happy ending, I was keen to see whether Tasha and Rhys would be able to cope with Tasha’s secrecy.

With only one more book to go in the series, I will certainly be sorry to say goodbye to Juniper Meadows. The setting has made these stories so much more enjoyable and I loved wandering through the different aspects of the estate: the archaeological dig to gin making, the community trails to the glamping site. This has helped make the books unique from each other, so I cannot help but wonder what aspect of Juniper Meadows will feature in the last story.

This was a really enjoyable read and I liked the romance aspect that is established between Tasha and Rhys. I look forward to returning to the cast of characters once more, and hope I am not waiting too long!

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rich, (oldish) bachelor

‘Anyone But the Boss’ – Sara L. Hudson

Thomas Moore is known for being a grump with a condescending attitude and no sense of humor. He’s also known for being the golden-boy heir a luxury department store empire and one of the best-looking billionaire bachelors around.

When his family implodes, his top priority becomes reconnecting with his estranged siblings. Which currently entails being best man in his younger brother’s Elvis-themed wedding in Las Vegas, a concept that this modern-day Mr. Darcy loathes.

Recently promoted marketing manager Alice Truman should be celebrating her successful career change. Instead, after a lifetime of foster-care hard knocks, she’s thrust into insta-caregiver mode when her foster sister cuts town, leaving behind her ailing father and five-year-old daughter.

With new bills mounting daily, Alice needs her job more than ever. So when her boss, who’s marrying into the Moore family, invites her to be a bridesmaid in their crazy Sin City wedding, saying no is not an option.

At least everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

Not exactly.

When Thomas and Alice wake up after a night of drinking their troubles away in the hotel bar, they find they have a whole new set of ball-and-chain consequences to drag home to New York.

This book wasn’t for me in the end. When the story didn’t feel far-fetched, it was laced with plenty of steamy sex scenes and quite a thin plot. I felt uncomfortable with the decade age-gap between the main characters as their relationship developed, picturing instead someone who was similar in age to Alice. Thomas is really hung up on behaving like his scandalised father and I had thought he was in his late twenties, early thirties. But, the little bit of information on his age meant I thought this oldish bachelor love story was a bit, well, yucky. I prefer my billionaire romances to be a bit younger!

Although this is part of a series, I didn’t notice and came in on book two without needing to know too much of the family history: the writer gives enough clues along the way to helpfully fill in any blanks. I like that Thomas’s family run a successful department store and this is where their wealth seems to originate from. This made his background a bit different to similar romance reads, rather than the male character typically being a rich bachelor who works in law.

The story switches between Thomas and Alice’s perspectives so you get a real sense of what these main characters are feeling. I enjoyed that sometimes it moved over immediately, continuing the scene on from the other character. It meant the story flowed and was less disjointed.

Some of the scenes in the book felt toe-curlingly awkward, such as at the airport security and the morning after the night before in Vegas. The lack of memories after an alcohol-fuelled evening did remind me of an episode from Friends… just a lot steamier instead. Yes, there were some entertaining scenes in between it all, but unfortunately I did not find I was chuckling too often.

The sub-plot featuring Mary became quite emotive and this was my favourite aspect of the story, rather than the main romance theme. I found Kayla’s character to be shocking so that Alice and Thomas’s actions become even more heroic in contrast. I really sympathised with Mary but admired her stoicism and perspective one-liners she has throughout the book. It was a total contrast with the awful cat, who made me shudder every time I imagined it!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get as much from this book as I was hoping. I am grateful to have given this author a try but I don’t think the story hung together particularly well, not aided by the fact it seemed so far-fetched and convenient in places.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Single parenting and the dating game

‘Wishing Under a Starlit Skye’ – Lisa Hobman

Glentorrin bakery owner, and lone parent, Caitlin Fraser, is single and finally ready to mingle.

With her daughter, Grace, about to become a teenager, and her friends all settling down, Caitlin decides she deserves a shot at happiness too.

Resisting the pull of dating apps, Caitlin embarks upon a series of disastrous singles events where she bumps into fellow villager, and astronomy buff, Archie Sutherland, who is nursing his own past secrets.

When Grace’s best friend’s father, handsome Lyle Budge, asks Caitlin to dinner, things progress quickly and she has a taste of what their future as a family could be, much to both their daughters delight! But when Archie makes a shocking discovery, and he turns to Caitlin for help, she soon discovers Lyle isn’t the sharing type, meaning prickly ultimatums loom for everyone.

Will wishing upon the stars over Glentorrin help Caitlin to figure out her way forward? Or is her hunt for romance like a once in a lifetime comet, easily missed in the blink of an eye?

Another great read from Hobman as we return to Skye and see familiar faces from previous novels. You certainly can be a newcomer to Hobman’s books with this one, not needing to read the other stories. Yet, I thought it was lovely to reminisce about the previous novels I have read already, making this definitely feel like I community I knew about already.

In this story, Hobman explores parenting and broken families. Caitlin made the decision to be a single parent and has not had any company whilst raising her daughter. Over the years, Caitlin has got used to the judgemental comments received about her decisions and this is emotionally exemplified in the opening chapter in the scene with Caitlin and her mother. I really sympathised with Caitlin and, as the story progressed, admired her strength in character and determination to do right by her daughter.

Yet, Caitlin starts to yearn for some company and is persuaded by her friends to get back on the dating scene. Rejecting apps in favour of meeting someone in person is equally fraught with disaster, showing the reality of someone trying to start a new relationship in a world where we seem to naturally want to hide behind our phones. These moments were entertaining in the story, particularly when Caitlin tries her hand at speed dating. However, it turns out that love is not necessarily far from home.

I enjoyed how Hobman does not make it too obvious in the beginning who Caitlin will establish a relationship with. This made the book more interesting as it would appear that both male characters in the story offer equally appealing security. Yet, as we learn more about Caitlin and what she wants in life, it is soon apparent that her choice comes into doubt. I liked seeing this transition and transformation, whilst eagerly waiting for Caitlin to finally get her deserved happy ever after.

This was a heart-warming story that I really enjoyed. Blended families and trying to make the right parenting decisions feature as the central theme to the story and I think many readers will understand Caitlin’s choices. All the characters are likeable and I appreciated how there were two love choices seeming equally appealing until a deciding moment changes Caitlin’s opinion.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

York versus Lancaster

‘The White Queen’ – Philippa Gregory

Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings the tumult and intrigue of The Wars of the Roses to vivid life through the women of the House of Lancaster and the House of York, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. A woman who won the love of a king and ascended to royalty by virtue of her beauty, Elizabeth fought tenaciously for the success of her family — her daughter who would one day unite the warring dynasties, and her two sons whose eventual fate has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower. An active player in the power struggles that surrounded her, she made hard and courageous choices, always trying to protect those whom she loved. Informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills, Philippa Gregory gives an unforgettable voice to an extraordinary woman at the heart of a devastating conflict.

I have had this book on my shelf for so long, getting my hands on it after watching the television series. However, as I soon learnt, Gregory’s book is one of a series and they all start to interweave one another. Result? Feeling a bit overwhelmed, this novel has been pushed to the back of my pile and it was through my reading challenge that I felt like it was high time I jumped in, feet first, to read this historical story.

So, now I have finished it, I can’t help but wonder why I didn’t pick this up sooner. I loved this well-written, immersive book that brings alive a turbulent time of British history. With the War of the Roses, I could not tell you very much at all: my knowledge of earlier English history is Stuart-based, Queen Elizabeth or, of course, the infamous Henry VIII. Gregory’s writing reminded me of Alison Weir and, whilst this was also a lengthy book, I hardly noticed because I was so drawn into the story.

With books like these, I always feel a sense of trepidation regarding the number of characters involved. Yes, there are a lot here and it doesn’t help that there are several Georges, Richards and Edwards. However, Gregory’s story-telling meant you don’t feel too overwhelmed by the different personalities: the characterisation was developed and detailed that I could easily keep track of everyone. This definitely made the book more enjoyable.

Seeing how calculating the warring families were during this time, it is a wonder there was ever peace. It is clear that the writer has done extensive research and it felt like I was learning about history but without having to read a dense textbook. Following Elizabeth Woodville and how she becomes Queen of England, she is never truly secure in her role and is constantly threatened with conflict and betrayal. The case of the missing Princes is also referred to towards the end of the story, piquing my interest in this period even further.

This book had me transported back to a turbulent England and I loved reading how loyalties were questions and suspicion was prevalent. I could not imagine living in such uncertain times and I really sympathised with how the women became pawns in the patriarchal society – used to further alliances and secure the throne.

I loved this book and it has definitely whetted my appetite for more from Gregory. I really hope to read further books in this series to extend my knowledge of this time period because it was so well-written and an enjoyable novel.

Book Bingo 2024 category completed: A book you’ve had for more than four years.

Flannel shirts

‘The Pumpkin Spice Cafe’ – Laurie Gilmore

When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

I do love autumn and this cover completely drew me in. To be honest, I was expecting a cosy mystery type of story but instead, this was a sweet romance with few ambiguities.

You can’t deny the sweetness of this predictable tale. I liked the simplicity of it; I feel like I have read quite a few twisty, complex novels recently. It is not challenging to the mind and I think this is great if you need a break from the chaos that life brings! Dream Harbor sounds like, well, a dream to live in and I loved that there is only one of everything: one coffee shop, one bakery, one bookshop etc. I think you struggle these days to not find a place that has a “coffee shop corner” and several rival businesses! However, with such a small town, it does mean that everyone in the community knows everyone else’s business – which Logan and Jeanie come to suffer from.

Jeanie feels the pressure of taking over her aunt’s coffee shop and knows that eyes are on her. She feels like an outsider and believes she needs to alter some of her personality and behaviour in order to fit in. Thankfully, this doesn’t go too far into the extreme and the “New Jeanie” that readers are presented with is far less stressed, not so highly strung and more of a joy to be around. When she sets eyes on the local farmer, Logan, her heart goes a-racing and this is the start of the ‘will they? Won’t they?’ romance.

Logan: the orphan farmer of the town. His grandparents have raised him and it is like all grown adults have adopted him out of sympathy. A very public proposal left Logan heartbroken and determined to protect his emotions at all costs. This is all well and good until he meets Jeanie. It is attraction at first sight. Jeanie cannot deny his good looks, his rippling body and seems to have a fascination with his flannel shirts. It is like the stereotypical, American farmer uniform!

Whilst the romance is predictable (and quite steamy in places), I most of all enjoyed the community of Dream Harbor. It is a stereotypical American town by the sea and I could vividly picture the autumnal colours as leaves begin to fall and pumpkins come into harvest. It is everything that I love about this time of year and I think this is why I enjoyed the story so much.

With other characters in the background, I think I can foresee what other books in the series might bring. It will be good to revisit Jeanie and Logan to see how their relationship is doing and the café as well, but I think it is clear that some of the emerging couples in this book will dominate future stories.

The “mystery” in this story is incredibly obvious and hardly requires any detective work from the reader, so this is more of a cute romance than anything else. I thought the characters were sweet but I was glad it was not a long read because I think there might have been a sugar and cuteness overload otherwise!

With thanks to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Magic pebbles

‘A Secret Gift’ – Amanda James

Three years ago, Joy Pentire lost her firefighter husband and she still hasn’t returned to the woman she once was. But then she meets Hope, one of the residents at the nursing home where she’s a carer.

Hope has a secret gift that she wants to pass on.
And Joy’s life is forever changed.

Surrounded by the community in her Cornish hometown, Joy’s unexpected inheritance soon leads to new opportunities, new friends, new love, and the part of herself she’d thought forever lost … her joy.

This was a gentle narrative that is all about the healing process… and some magical pebbles too. It was slow and sweet but I did struggle with the fakery of the magic pebbles and the temporary influence they had on all those that Joy encounters.

I was surprised by this magical twist and it definitely made for a more interesting story. As a grieving widow, Joy had changed jobs from the classroom to an elderly care home and it is here that she inherits this skill as being a collector. Joy has the power to see people’s auras: to physically see the emotions that other people are feeling and can collect some of this to pass on to others in need. During the course of the story, Joy encounters strangers from all walks of life with a range of personal problems. She uses her super-powers to improve their lives for the better.

Most of the characters were willing to open up to Joy. I found this unexpected and a bit predictable, the more it happened. Very little encouragement is needed and Joy became more of a counsellor than a friend. As a result, I think it slowed the plot down a fair amount as the detail for each character’s emotions became quite prolonged. Yet, Joy does have their best interests at heart and frequently she puts other people’s happiness before her own. This reaches a climax in the novel where her own heart and love is at risk and I enjoyed seeing how she overcame this dilemma.

Upon receiving the magic pebble full of good emotions, the recipient suddenly feels the impact and Joy watches them become more positive and confident. However, I found this a bit unsettling because it didn’t feel natural to the characters: let’s face it, they are all being influenced by something that is not a reflection of their true personality. The brief confidence, happiness or desire to do better felt artificial and it made me wonder whether Joy would interfere again, the next time the character was feeling a bit low. Surely there needed to be the opportunity for the characters to learn individually, without the influence of magic?

Maybe I have read into this too much, but I couldn’t escape that feeling and it unsettled me a bit. I think because so many of the characters responded positively to Joy’s influence that it didn’t feel realistic (although I did accept you can collect emotions and transfer them to pebbles!). Without this feature, it was still a pleasant story to read and I enjoyed escaping to the Cornish coast, watching the protagonist move on from the loss of her husband and making friends along the way as she returns to the classroom once more.

With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Bingo 2024 category completed: Set in a school.

Not a Taylor Swift dedication

‘Never Ever Getting Back Together’ – Phoebe MacLeod

Everyone remembers their first love. Jess Thomas definitely does. So, it’s more than a little awkward when Jess’s first love, Jamie Ferguson, turns out to be the best man at the wedding she’s catering for. And more than a little insulting when he doesn’t appear to remember her at all.

Since Jamie broke her heart (via text!), 10 years earlier, Jess has sworn off romance. And with a booming catering business to focus on, she’s doing OK. She has no interest in revisiting the past. But when Jess’s car breaks down on a country lane, she has no choice but to accept Jamie’s help. Now, Jamie is determined to show Jess he’s a new man.

But can guys like Jamie ever really change? And if she gives him another chance, is she setting herself up for a fall?

I am sure, like many readers, a bit of Taylor Swift was running around their heads whilst reading this book. Not necessarily a bad thing, that girl can do no wrong! In fact, both this book and Tay-tay were just what I needed for my reading: a straight-forward romance with little complications.

In this story, the theme is reconnecting with your first love. Except for Jess, Jamie never knew her feelings for him and a magical night ten years ago ended abruptly, leaving Jess hating this first love forever more. So when she recognises Jamie at a wedding she is catering for, Jess is determined to escape unscathed: not rekindle any friendship and certainly not spend any time with him. But fate has other plans…

Although you can predict how this story will unfold, I liked seeing Jess and Jamie’s relationship rekindle. It becomes clear that there is something special between this couple but Jess is determined not to get hurt again. Being a business owner, she has used this excuse for remaining single for so long and her friends see that Jamie is just what she needs. Her attempts at dating men that aren’t Jamie were entertaining and I really sympathised with her first date – what a yawn fest!

There is more to Jamie’s character than his fancy car salesman role and I liked how the writer developed his background, adding a further layer to his connection with Jess. I found this aspect to be surprising and it made the plot more enjoyable as a result.

An entertaining, light-hearted story, this is one that you can easily escape into without feeling the pressures of daily life. It is a quick read and I enjoyed reading about all of the characters, especially Jess’s banter with her sister. Jess has been hurt by her first love and I think some of her feelings are ones that readers will relate to. I found myself rooting for Jess and Jamie, wanting them to find happiness after ten years of separation.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Suits

‘The Law of Attraction’ – Laura Carter

A Hotshot Manhattan Attorney.

Drew Harrington knows exactly who he is—a legal shark with a love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude that works just fine in his cutthroat world. He’s on the cusp of being named a partner in his firm, but only if he can prove to his colleagues that he has a more human side.

A Sweetheart of a British Patisserie Chef.

Becky Fletcher is running from her past, so the last thing she’s looking for is love. What she does want is a friendly face in a cold city. Her sunny outlook is perfect opposite to Drew’s hard exterior, but can she afford to let down her guard?

One fateful meeting at a bagel cart.

They sound like a match made in heaven—or is it a car crash?

I really enjoyed this romantic tale: it is sweet, uncomplicated and the protagonist very much reminded me of Harvey from Suits! No bad thing, his ways are undeniably self-centred and thinking with his trousers, I liked how terrible and good Drew was all at once.

Not only does the character remind me of a television show, but I loved Carter’s reference to it. Even with the scotch consumption and Drew’s secretary, Sarah, all I could think of was the Suits links. Yet, when Drew meets Becky in a queue for a breakfast bagel, his behaviours start to change. No longer is he driven by bedding beautiful women and happily having just one-night stands, the connection he finds with Becky distracts him because it is like coming home. Becky offers security, warmth and a genuine relationship that Drew knows he has never felt before. But does she feel the same?

What was refreshing about this story is that readers do not get much of an insight into how Becky is feeling. There are only a handful of chapters from her perspective and these mostly provide the background to how “British Becky” ends up working in New York. As such, I was as perplexed as Drew and, despite his arrogance, even he cannot be completely certain that the obsessive feelings he has for this girl are even returned, particularly as Becky emphasised how much she was not looking for a long-term relationship.

I really enjoyed this element of the story, finding it unusual to know so much about the male character and so little about the love interest. Furthermore, I found Becky’s background to be surprising, especially towards the end. The relationship between the two characters is a sweet, slow-burner and I appreciated seeing them get to know each other better, rather than just the physical side of the relationship (although Drew is easily distracted by thoughts of this).

It is not a racy, graphic novel, but with enough suggestions to know what the characters are feeling. There were no characters I especially disliked and I delighted in mix of romance with being an upshot lawyer in New York. Drew is described in a way that will get most readers’ hearts racing and he definitely had character appeal! I hope the rest of the series is just as good as this one, giving me the escapism I really needed.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.