BLOG TOUR: A Billionaire for Christmas - Jo Lyons

When talented chef Molly's best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly's inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava's wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She's in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Olivia Spring and Sophie Kinsella.

 

What did I think?

Well this fabulous book has certainly got me in the festive spirit!  It also got my pulse racing, but more about that in a moment.  Jo Lyons writes the funniest romantic comedy books and A Billionaire for Christmas is an absolute Christmas cracker!  It is almost impossible not to laugh out loud when you're reading it.

I adored the main character of Molly who is going to lose her restaurant if she doesn't complete the bucket list left by her late business partner.  In order to inherit the restaurant, Molly has to tick of the funniest, most daring and completely outrageous set of tasks that Ava has left her.  Even more daunting, Molly only has a few days left to do it in - eek!

Although Ava's untimely death is very sad, the rest of the story is hilarious and I couldn't read fast enough to see which item Molly would attempt next.  The task that most eludes her is the one that got my pulse racing as there is so much chemistry between Molly and billionaire businessman Levi.  With misunderstandings, sizzling passions and the inevitable will they/won't they, this is a fabulous romance story with a lot of laughs.

Funny, flirty and festive, A Billionaire for Christmas is a fabulous romcom from a fantastic author who really knows how to tickle my funny bone.  This is the book you want to find in your Christmas stocking this year - a very highly recommended read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy link: https://mybook.to/BillionaireChristmas

About the author:

Jo Lyons is the bestselling author of six novels and was shortlisted for the prestigious Comedy Women in Print Awards in 2021. She spent years working abroad in sunny destinations like Turkey, Spain and the south of France at a vineyard (trying her best not to drink them out of business). Jo writes uplifting, laugh-out-loud, warm-hearted romantic comedies, including Girls Just Want to Have Sun.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @JoLyons

Twitter: @J0Lyons

Instagram: @hinnywhowrites

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JoLyonsNews

Bookbub profile: @joannalyons

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Glorious Exploits - Ferdia Lennon

Ancient Sicily. Enter GELON: visionary, dreamer, theatre lover. Enter LAMPO: lovesick, jobless, in need of a distraction.

Imprisoned in the quarries of Syracuse, thousands of defeated Athenians hang on by the thinnest of threads.

They’re fading in the baking heat, but not everything is lost: they can still recite lines from Greek tragedy when tempted by Lampo and Gelon with goatskins of wine and scraps of food.

And so an idea is born. Because, after all, you can hate the invaders but still love their poetry.

It’s audacious. It might even be dangerous. But like all the best things in life – love, friendship, art itself – it will reveal the very worst, and the very best, of what humans are capable of.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

What did I think?

Wow!  Glorious Exploits has to be one of the most original and brilliant debuts I have ever read.  It's like nothing I have read before nor expect to read again and I absolutely loved it.

The quarries are home to prisoners of war from Athens and if they don't starve to death they will be baked alive by the sun.  Syracusians Gelon and his friend Lampo come up with a get rich quick scheme to put on a play starring the Athenians, if they survive long enough to perform.  What follows is a heartwarming tale of humanity with a comedic edge that had me rooting for the characters and chuckling at their escapades.

It's almost impossible to describe this book.  It's almost a retelling of Greek myth in the style of Monty Python with an Irish slant.  It also feels like an homage to a few of my favourite comedies.  Imagine the Life of Brian with Del Boy and Rodney mixed with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer and a bit of Father Ted.  There is a lot of subtle humour and I couldn't help but laugh out loud on a few occasions.

Highly original, humourous and heartfelt, Glorious Exploits is a magnificent debut and a veritable feast for the eyes.  I devoured it and loved every minute of it.  An easy five stars and a highly recommended read. 

Glorious Exploits is longlisted for Swansea University's Dylan Thomas Prize with the shortlist to be announced on 20th March.  Good luck to Ferdia Lennon - I have my fingers crossed that I have read the winning book.

I received a gifted ARC to celebrate the Dylan Thomas Prize longlist and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Benidorm Cocktail Hour (The Benidorm Series Book 3) - Jo Lyons

Benidorm Cocktail Hour is the third book in The Benidorm Series. Follow Connie and The Dollz as they ‘do’ Las Vegas.

Connie attempts to juggle her romantic break with an over-the-top stag do, an increasingly heavy workload, and a case of unrequited love. With Ged and Liam turning into major bridezillas, Connie struggles to keep up with their incessant demands for forced enjoyment and their obsessive hunt for A-List celebrities. When The Dollz ramp up their reckless behaviour, Connie finds herself on the receiving end of some disgruntled local mobsters and an accidental wedding that should never have taken place.

Amid the chaos, will her and Matteo’s love ever find a way? Only one thing is for sure - what happens in Vegas, MUST stay in Vegas…

 

What did I think?

I have absolutely loved all of the books in the Benidorm series but I think Benidrom Cocktail Hour has to be my favourite as it didn't just make me cry with laughter, I also cried happy tears.

I love Connie and The Dollz, as well as Ged and Liam, and their hilarious escapades, so I raced straight onto the virtual Las Vegas flight after finishing book 2, Bendorm again.  Connie was hoping for a romantic getaway with Matteo but her trip has snowballed into including Ged and Liam's pre-moon and a gig with The Dollz.  There's also an unwelcome face on the same flight...

Oh Connie, she does get herself into some scrapes but with friends like The Dollz there's always someone there who has her back.  The Dollz are proper Geordie lasses who drink until they throw up (or fall asleep) and then start again!  Las Vegas won't know what's hit them when these crazy ladies descend on the Strip.

Benidorm Cocktail Hour is one of the funniest yet heartwarming books I have ever read.  It really should have waterproof pages though; I almost spat my cuppa out laughing from the start and I struggled to hold in my happy tears towards the end - that's how much I love these characters!  Jo Lyons never fails to make me laugh and with lots of laughs and plenty of romance, Benidorm Cocktail Hour is the perfect romantic comedy.

Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Stand-Up Mam - Kay Wilson

Georgie Chancellor has worked hard to have a perfect life, and it is, on the outside. She has a beautiful home, successful husband and two wonderful children. Everything she dreamed about as a girl is hers. Not that she ever thinks about her past, anymore.

But when her family enters her into a stand-up comedy competition. Georgie finds on stage, only the truth will do.

Encouraged by Jaz, her handsome mentor, she riffs about her family and what life is really like behind the facade. Audiences love it, and Georgie's star begins to rise.

Will stand-up success destroy everything she has created?

 

What did I think?

As soon as I saw 'Mam' in the title, I knew I had to read The Stand-Up Mam to support a local author.  Kay Wilson's debut novel is fabulous and a lot darker than you'd expect from the title, but it's filled with heart and north-east wit.

Georgie Chancellor feels invisible; she's like a house-slave for her family, preparing meals and doing laundry without a word of thanks or appreciation.  It's quite a surprise when her family enter her into a stand-up comedy competition and I don't think they expected her to do so well and the joke is on them when it takes her out of the home and into the comedy clubs.

It's cathartic for Georgie to vent her frustration on stage, with her family life providing most of her material.  Finally, somebody is listening to her and she can reveal her dark heart in all its nasty glory.  As the competition progresses, so does the drama in Georgie's life and she has even more to talk about on stage.  Her family are so self-centred and disinterested in what's going on with Georgie, other than how it affects them, so they have no idea what Georgie talks about on stage.

I loved seeing Georgie's confidence grow throughout the book and I was torn between thinking she should be honest with her family and thinking that it serves them right for taking her for granted.  Set in comedy clubs, there is obviously a sprinkling of humour but there's a whole lot of drama when Georgie rencounters a face from her past.

Powerful, inspirational and very entertaining, The Stand-Up Mam not only encourages you to follow your dreams but also to tell someone you appreciate them.  I loved it and would definitely recommend giving it a read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

Kay Wilson lives in South Tyneside. Her novel features many of her own experiences of stand-up comedy - a bucket list ambition she achieved after surviving a near-fatal brain haemorrhage.

She has worked in PR for 30 years and won the New Writing North/Journal Flash Fiction competition. She has had short stories published in various anthologies.

"I would love my book to empower women to make each day the best it can be for them and, it might sound trite, to challenge themselves and follow their dreams."

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The Rabbit Factor (Rabbit Factor Trilogy Book 1) - Antti Tuomainen (Author), David Hackston (Translator)

Just one spreadsheet away from chaos…

What makes life perfect? Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen knows the answer because he calculates everything down to the very last decimal.

And then, for the first time, Henri is faced with the incalculable. After suddenly losing his job, Henri inherits an adventure park from his brother – its peculiar employees and troubling financial problems included. The worst of the financial issues appear to originate from big loans taken from criminal quarters … and some dangerous men are very keen to get their money back.

But what Henri really can't compute is love. In the adventure park, Henri crosses paths with Laura, an artist with a chequered past, and a joie de vivre and erratic lifestyle that bewilders him. As the criminals go to extreme lengths to collect their debts and as Henri's relationship with Laura deepens, he finds himself faced with situations and emotions that simply cannot be pinned down on his spreadsheets…

Warmly funny, rich with quirky characters and absurd situations, The Rabbit Factor is a triumph of a dark thriller, its tension matched only by its ability to make us rejoice in the beauty and random nature of life.

 

What did I think?

I've had my eye on The Rabbit Factor for a while and now that it is being made into a movie, I wanted to make sure that I read the book first.  This is going to be one heck of a movie if it's even half as good as the book.

I loved Henri, he's Mr Logic and relies on mathematical calculations to solve all of his problems.  When he inherits a run down adventure park (not an amusement park as he's fond of telling people) he also inherits his brother's debts.  The criminals who want their money back with interest think Henri will be a pushover but they have seriously miscalculated.

The whole setting in the adventure park is fantastic and I could totally picture it in my head, thanks to the big rabbit on the front of the book of course.  There's a strange bunch of people employed there and Henri finds himself drawn to one of them as the find they have a shared interest in art.  Henri's relationship with Laura was so lovely to read as Henri is so naïve when it comes to the opposite sex.

The Rabbit Factor is a delightfully quirky comedy crime caper with the most unlikely and endearing protagonist.  I will definitely be picking up the other books in the series to continue Henri's adventure.

I chose to read a digital ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Once Upon a Tyne - Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly with Andy Milligan

Ant and Dec hold a special place in the hearts of TV viewers everywhere. This is their epic story, with never-before-seen photography and the very best tales from their 30 years in TV.

Ant: As the old Chinese proverb says, 'Good things come in pairs'.

Dec: And as another Chinese proverb says, 'If you've been in a double act with your best mate for thirty years, why not write a book about all your most memorable moments in three decades of showbusiness?'

Ant: Less catchy that one, isn't it?

Dec: But no less true. And after three decades together, we're writing that book. Covering everything from a pirate radio storyline in Byker Grove through to the biggest shows on telly, this is our story.

Ant: Thirty years, eh? Amazing.

Dec: Absolutely. Especially when you consider we are both still 27 years old.

From their modest beginnings in Byker Grove through to their "unique" time as pop stars and an award-laden TV career, the last three decades have flown by in the blink of an eye. They've also featured an incredible cast of supporting characters, including their first scriptwriter (an unknown comedian called David Walliams), Saturday night fun and games with countless Hollywood A-listers, and celebrities they torture - sorry, work with - every year in the jungle. Told through the lens of every TV show they've made, as well as everything they've learnt along the way, this is the riotously funny journey of two ordinary lads from Newcastle who went on to achieve extraordinary things.

What did I think?

Being of an age where I rushed home from my school in Newcastle to watch Byker Grove, I feel like I've grown up with Ant and Dec on my telly.  It's amazing to think that these two lads from Tyneside have been on our screens for 30 years and we're not even sick of them yet!  They continue to entertain millions and scoop armfuls of awards because, like Morecambe & Wise, they are the perfect pairing.  There's only one Ant & Dec and this is their story (so far). 

Written in their own imitable style the lads' voices come through loud and clear; I'm sure it would be even better on audiobook but I read the hardback with full colour photos included.  You don't get photos on audiobook, so there!  I do think that it's well worth getting the hardback to see the brilliant, and often hilarious, colour photos in all their glory.  I love the book format that takes the reader on a chronological journey of TV shows from Byker Grove to DNA story, with a chapter being dedicated to each venture.  

I haven't watched everything that Ant & Dec have ever done but I'm familiar with the shows so it was really interesting to read some of the funny stories I hadn't heard before and recall those I had forgotten.  From kettle stealing Alan Shearer to Madonna's wardrobe malfunction at The Brits they're all in Once Upon a Tyne.  What you won't find are the gory details of Ant's fall from grace as this is a celebration of the working relationship of Britain's favourite pair of entertainers.

Funny, honest and entertaining, Once upon a Tyne is so easy and fun to read but it should definitely come with a warning: may cause laughter.  You can't help but read it with a smile on your face as Ant & Dec are the best anti-depressant you can get without prescription.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Effin' Birds: A Field Guide to Identification - Aaron Reynolds

Have you ever looked a bird dead in the eye and wondered what it was thinking?

With Effin Birds, the most eagerly anticipated new volume in the noble avocation of bird identification, you can venture into nature with confidence. This farcical field guide will help you identify over 200 birds, but more importantly, for the first time in history, it will also help you understand what these birds are thinking:

• The vainglorious grebe is acutely aware of its own magnificence.
  
• The hipster pelican thinks the world is a sh*tbarge.
  
• The overbearing heron wishes you better luck next time, f*cknuts.
  
• The counsellor swallow wants you to maybe try not being a d*ckhead.

Alongside beautiful, scientifically accurate illustrations and a whole lot of swearing is incisive commentary on modern life and the world we, as humans, must navigate. Or maybe it s just some pictures of effin birds, okay?

What did I think?

As soon as I saw the cover of Effin' Birds, I knew I had to read it and what a refreshing change of pace this was in my reading schedule. Described as 'pictures of birds with curse words', I sniggered and snorted my way through this book as it really appealed to my sense of humour.   I have to say, it really doesn't have a lot to do with birds so if you're an ornithologist, look away now.  

There are indeed lots of pictures of birds with curse words but there are also some funny descriptions of fictional bird breeds, describing their habitat and identifying characteristics.  I bet I wasn't the only reader trying to identify themselves or their colleagues in some of these hilarious sections.  If you're wondering, I'd be a Peevish Ringneck as I do like a good eye roll now and again.

Joking aside for just one moment, the illustrations are absolutely breathtaking and it makes the cursing even funnier as Aaron Reynolds imagines what the birds are thinking.  I mean have you ever wondered what a peacock was thinking as it strutted around shaking its feathers?  Well that mystery and more have now been solved.

Anyone who has a sense of humour will love this book; it's more of a snort your drink through your nose than a big belly laugh kind of book but it's highly entertaining.  If the first thing you did in French class was look up the rude words in the dictionary then you must buy this book.  I couldn't get enough of Effin' Birds and I'm delighted to see more illustrations on Twitter at @EffinBirds so make sure you follow Aaron Reynolds too!

Hilarious in its vulgarity, Effin' Birds reawakens your inner giggling schoolchild and puts a smile on your face.  It would make a fabulous gift for that impossible-to-buy-for person, as long as they have a good sense of humour.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




About the author:

Aaron Reynolds is the writer of @EffinBirds and @swear_trek, and the curator of @BatLabels. 

He is also a software instructor, which is where most of his elfin' inspiration comes from.

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BLOG TOUR: Bad (Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know Trilogy) - Chloé Esposito

She stole the life she wanted. Now someone wants to steal it back . . . 

Alvie Knightly may be waking up in the Ritz, but her life is no bed of roses.

Firstly, she has the mother of all hangovers.

Secondly, her beautiful, spoiled twin sister Beth has just been found dead in Sicily - and the police want Alvie for questioning.

And thirdly, Alvie's hot new boyfriend has vanished with every penny of the millions they stole from Beth.

But he picked the wrong girl to mess with.

Alvie will pursue her ex to Rome in a game of cat and mouse that only one of them can survive.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned . . .

But can Alvie get revenge before her crimes catch up with her? 

What did I think?

If I had known that this was the second book in a trilogy, I wouldn't have picked it up but thank goodness I didn't realise this because I have never had as much fun reading a book in all my life.  I think I laughed most of the way through it, often sniggering like a schoolgirl and noting down some of the hilarious names that Alvie calls her boyfriend.  So, as I enjoyed it so much, you clearly can read this book as a standalone and I never felt at a disadvantage at all as there is a quick recap of what happened in the first book to fill in all of the blanks for readers jumping in at book two.

Alvie Knightly is on the run after the suspicious death of her sister, Betta, so she has a really great idea to steal her twin sister's identity.  The police aren't looking for a dead woman, are they?  After getting double crossed by her boyfriend, Nino, Alvie vows revenge and tracks him to Rome - it's fortunate that she installed that tracker on his phone, isn't it?  The scrapes that Alvie gets into along the way had me roaring with laughter and I'm even tittering away now as I think of them.  She is one crazy woman and she's not afraid to go after what she wants...and snatch it from whoever has it, like a spoilt child.

I'm not going to mention the hilarious things that happen, but I have to say that Alvie's decision to get a tattoo and the subsequent inking was one of the funniest things I have ever read.  Whilst a lot of the book is funny, it is also often quite steamy and the sex scenes were a little descriptive for my delicate disposition.  It's par for the course in this type of book so it's to be expected and Alvie is such an extreme character that you never know what, or who, she's going to do next.  There's a lot more to this book than the steamy scenes so I'm loathe to call it 'trashy', however, my fairy godsister loves a trashy novel and I think she will absolutely love this; I'll be passing my copy her way to see what she thinks of it.

Alvie's crime capers almost have a slapstick feel to them which lulled me into a false sense of security, so I got quite a rude awakening at the end...which leads nicely on to book 3.  I'm definitely going to pick up the first book in the series, Mad, to see exactly what Alvie got up to in Sicily and I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, Dangerous to Know, when it is released in October.

Full of side-splitting hilarity, Bad is the perfect book to take on holiday this year but be prepared for some funny looks as you won't be able to contain your laughter!  

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon


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Elephant and Pinky Moon - Lilac Mills

Twenty-eight-year-old Nina lives a quiet, unassuming life, happy (ish) with her job, maybe not quite as happy with her non-existent love-life (but no one can have everything, right?) and content to trundle along with her nice, predictable daily routine.

That is, until Nina is persuaded to accompany her octogenarian grandmother on a beach holiday to Turkey.

Nina envisages sedate walks along the promenade, afternoon naps by the pool, and bingo in the evening. What she actually gets is too much vodka, adult games of "pin the tail on the donkey" and dancing on a bar whilst flaunting her knickers - and that's just her gran!

What did I think?

Oh I absolutely LOVED this book!  Having adored Lilac Mills' amazing debut, Under the Cherry Tree, I was like a kid in a sweet shop when Elephant and Pinky Moon dropped on my kindle.  Lilac Mills has such a fabulous lyrical writing style that she magically sweeps us away to picturesque Turkey in her latest novel.

Well I admit to wondering what the devil Elephant and Pinky Moon could be all about, as there was absolutely no clue in the title.  All is hilariously revealed as we follow Nina and her 84-going-on-24 year old grandmother on their trip to Turkey.  Nina is conned into going on the trip with her gran, taking the place of her granddad who recently passed away.  Yes, I did say Nina was conned by the unruly Flossie as the resort is meant for 30-45 year olds to have some sun, sea, sand and something else.

Nina couldn't be more unlike her gran.  Whereas Flossie is outgoing, outrageous and daring, Nina is reserved and often mortified by Flossie's actions but Flossie has a cunning plan: she is going to get Nina out of her comfort zone and paired up with a nice young man if it's the last thing that she does.  With dancing on bars, diving and paragliding in the mix, Flossie's plan is put into action and Nina starts to let her hair down a little.  Nina's choice of activities are some civilised excursions to see the historical sites in the area and with a little nudge from Flossie, she meets the lovely Leo.  I think I fell a little bit in love with Leo myself, but is he too good to be true?

There is LOTS of hilarity (and vodka) in Elephant and Pinky Moon but also some real life trials and tribulations, reminding us how precious and fragile life is.  A rollicking good read, bursting with wit, warmth and Nanna-isms, Elephant and Pinky Moon will take you on a side-splitting trip to scenic Turkey from the comfort of your own armchair.  It is a perfect pool-side read or an ideal escape from British Summer/Winter time on a chilly wet weekend.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The Advice Bucket - Heather HIll

Merrick's life was a wild goose chase. Literally.

Somewhere on the remote, Scottish isle of Scarba, Gladys awaits answers. What is the centuries-old secret that rules her destiny? A short distance away, Merrick is on his way to join 35,000 fellow barnacle geese at their annual gathering. Delayed by a sudden fall from the sky, he sustains his first wrist injury in three centuries, and has to catch a boat. Lucy Colwyn wants to go to Scarba to die; if she can only get there unscathed first. Eminent neurologist, Dr. Britten, receives miraculous news: a dying patient is cured. He now has no choice but to abandon everything and track her down before she does the unthinkable. But the journey won’t be easy, as three familiar old ladies have other, rather unorthodox agendas. The Queen of The Hebrides leaves for Islay loaded with strangers. By the time it reaches at its conclusion, some of the passengers are on their way to reaching another. That they’re more connected than they could ever have imagined. 

The Advice Bucket is a comedy-fantasy, and is Heather Hill’s third novel. 

From the author of International Best-Sellers, ‘The New Mrs D’ and ‘I Hate That You Bloody Left Me.’

What did I think?

There's a surprise on every page of this fabulous book. It's so completely different, filled with life stories and humour that you are guaranteed to have a tear in your eye at some point in the book.

There are lots of interesting characters in the book but the main story revolves around Lucy. Lucy has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and having lost her only daughter, decides to travel to remote Scarba island to end her life. Scarba means a lot to Lucy as it is where her mother apparently committed suicide many years ago. It is while Lucy is en route to Scarba that her doctor, Doctor Britten, receives the amazing results of a trial that Lucy has been involved in. Can he reach Lucy in time and does she have anything to live for?

Merrick meanwhile, is also making his way to Scarba as a barnacle goose, when the unearthing of a hidden spell finds him thrust into human form. He needs to meet back up with his flock but it's not only his goose family waiting for him on Scarba...

The Advice Bucket blurs the lines between dying and living forever, they are perhaps one and the same thing. It is a poignant story of living with a terminal illness and a magical account of immortality, with a smattering of Scottish humour that will leave you with a smile on your face. On a serious note, it also draws your attention to the plight of these barnacle geese and the Scottish government's attempts to reduce their numbers. It was not something that I was aware of until now and looking at the amazing photo on the cover of the book, wonder how anyone could harm these majestic creatures.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Mr Right & Mr Wrong - Grigory Ryzhakov

Having two admirers can be a real headache, especially when a tough agronomy course at Imperial College comes on top of that, not forgetting a part-time job at a florist’s and a mother desperate to marry you off.

Have I mentioned a stalker who keeps sending roses, and a Professor who thinks it’s fine to bury you under an extra pile of academic papers? Arrrgh!

Blake may be cute and charming, but Terrence is no less attractive in his business suits. What is a poor girl to do? Dating both of them is the right thing if you listen to Trish and that’s exactly the way Kurt handles his men.

Party after party, you have to deal with these bouts of guilt mixed with hangovers while mulling over the same dilemma over and over again - Blake or Terrence? Terrence or Blake?

Think, Chloe, think!

Mr Right & Mr Wrong is a wonderfully warm and witty yet thoughtful romantic comedy, from which you will not only pick up tips on the intricacies of London dating, but also discover a few moral and ethical aspects of plant neurobiology. Not so much chick lit as chic lit, offering sophistication alongside Chloe’s amusing complications.

What did I think?

This was such good fun!  I absolutely adored the chapters being named after plants and fruits including their botanical (latin) names.  It was so clever how these plants or fruits were then weaved into the relevant chapter.  It shows how well thought out this book was.

I laughed out loud on so many occasions and felt the need to read excerpts out to whichever lucky person was sitting in the room with me!  Chloe is an instantly likeable character, living the single life and not necessarily looking for love when, like the number 9 bus, two men come along at once.  She can't decide between the two so she dates both of them, and whilst I don't condone this I can understand the confusion on the dating scene.  She's ultimately looking to settle down with someone, she is 22...er...25...er actually 28 after all.  So professional, respectable Terrence seems like a good choice over fun, flirty Blake.  Will Terrence turn out to be Mr. Right or Mr. Wrong?  That's what I was asking myself throughout the book, so I had to keep reading into the early hours to find out!

I really enjoyed the way that Grigory Ryzhakov has written this book.  His humour shines out of every page and I found myself laughing,smiling and cursing dastardly men throughout the book.  I notice on Amazon that this is Girl Scientist Book 1 - so I'll be looking out for book 2.  Hopefully we will hear more of Chloe's escapades and find out if she ended up with Mr. Right after all.

I received this book from the author via a Goodreads Giveaway.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon