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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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:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Meantime in Greenwich - Hannah Keens

Can an orphaned astrologer and a widowed astronomer put aside their differences to find love?

After Stella’s parents died, she spent her childhood in an orphanage so she fears loving anyone in case she loses them. Her only solace in life is astrology.

Benedict’s wife died in childbirth, so he raised his son alone. When he meets Stella, he is overwhelmed by guilt. And as a respected professor of astronomy, can he really allow himself to fall in love with an astrologer?

Find out whether love is written in the stars for Stella and Benedict in this English romantic comedy.

What did I think?

I absolutely adored Meantime in Greenwich from its clever play on words title to its charming and heartwarming storyline.  It's no secret that Hannah Keens is a pseudonym of Helen Steadman and as Helen is one of my favourite authors it's no surprise that this gorgeous book is going straight on to my favourites shelf.

I used to go to Greenwich a lot when I visited family in London so it was lovely to virtually revisit this part of London in the book as it was brought to life through the wonderfully vivid and descriptive writing.  If I thought the location was vivid, it pales in comparison to the characters who virtually pop from the page.  I loved Stella but it was her love interest Benedict's son Daniel who stole my heart.

So I mentioned the clever play on words in the title earlier and obviously the location is Greenwich (with Durham playing a small cameo) but the Meantime comes from the spat between astrology and astronomy.  Stella is an astrologer and, as her mother taught her, it keeps her mother's memory alive.  Stella meets astronomer Benedict when she attends his lecture about Saturn and they have an instant connection.  Benedict's snooty astronomy colleagues couldn't bear it if he dated an astrologer!

There is just so much to love about this book and it's perfect escapism to put a smile on your face at the end of the day.  It's fabulous feel-good fiction without being sugar-coated as the characters have their own past heartaches and challenges to overcome.  I warmed to the characters so much that I had a lump in my throat at the end and I'm missing them already.

Romantic, charming and uplifting, Meantime in Greenwich is a fabulous romantic comedy that warmed my heart and cheered my soul.  I will definitely be reading it again to brighten my day; it's like my own personal prescription from Dr Steadman.  Very highly recommended.

I received an 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:

Hannah Keens is a contemporary English novelist. She writes sweet romantic comedies that will leave you with a smile in your heart. Welcome to a world of love, laughter and happily ever after.

Website: https://hannahkeens.com/ 

Author note from book: https://hannahkeens.com/visit-mysteries-in-covent-garden

Twitter: https://x.com/HannahKeens 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahkeensauthor/ 

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Benidorm, actually - Jo Lyons

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will shortly be arriving into Alicante. Please ensure your big lips and heavy eyebrows are securely fastened, your eyelashes are stowed in the upright position and your leg tattoos are clearly visible for landing.”

Connie Cooper’s classical music career is at a dead-end. She’s singing cheap covers to a sea of bald heads and the nearest she has been to a romantic relationship in years is watching the Bridgerton buttocks scene on a continuous loop.

The last thing she needs is to be on a flight to Benidorm with strict instructions to impress the boss of Jezebel Music. But as she tries to keep up with support band, The Dollz, and the constant flashmob dancing, the going out in less than you’d wear on the beach and their obsession with the promiscuous bearded-Nuns in the villa next door, the boss seems less and less impressed.

The clock is ticking. She’s meant to be finding her voice, not finding his brooding good-looks irresistibly attractive… How can she show him that she has what it takes to succeed?

That’s right. Instead of just being herself, she’ll follow The Dollz’ advice to dress like a low-rent stripper and impress him by pole-dancing on top of a table full of drinks.

What could go wrong?

 

What did I think?

I absolutely loved this book; it was just what I needed to banish the winter blues as it whisked me away to sunnier climes.  It's so laugh-out-loud hilarious that it should come with waterproof pages as I had tears rolling down my face on so many occasions.

I've never been to Benidorm but Jo Lyons brings the vibrant and colourful holiday resort to life between the pages of her fabulous debut novel as we follow Connie Cooper's last ditch attempt to make it in the music business.  From the minute Connie steps on the plane in Newcastle, the reader is under no illusion that is going to be a regular holiday romance type of book...not with The Dollz around anyway.

I had such a vivid picture of The Dollz in my head and their constant practising of their routines still makes me smile long after turning the final page.  They're supposed to be Connie's support act, both in the story and character weighting, however, they are so much larger than life that nothing will keep The Dollz out of the limelight.

I absolutely loved Connie though; she seems to puts her foot in it every time she opens her mouth, especially with Mr Window Seat who she is destined to run into again (quite literally) when the plane touches down in Spain. 

Filled with sun, sea, sand and singing, Benidorm, actually is an entertaining and hilarious romantic comedy.  It's a sparkling debut from Jo Lyons and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Strictly Come Dating - Kathryn Freeman

I love Kathryn Freeman books so I am thrilled to be taking part in the Rachel's Random Resources Blog Tour for Strictly Come Dating.  Scroll down to find out about Kathryn's new book and to read my review.

 

Saturday nights are strictly for dancing… 

As the glitter ball shimmers and sequins flash, forty-year-old Maggie remembers the pull of the dancefloor.  But now, as a newly divorced mum of two, Maggie’s certain her dancing days are over.  Or are they…?

Encouraged by her friends, Maggie dusts off her silver stilettoes and enrols for dancing classes, all she needs now is the perfect partner.

Enter Seb.  Young, carefree and hot as hell, Seb is definitely a perfect 10!  Even though everything about him is outrageously inappropriate! But as Seb sweeps her across the dancefloor every week, Maggie begins to see a new side to him; kind, caring, funny, strong. 

And Maggie realises that he’s the only one she’d like to foxtrot with…perhaps even forever

What did I think?

I'm a huge fan of Kathryn Freeman but I have to admit that, having never watched Strictly Come Dancing and being unable to tell a foxtrot from a tango, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy her new novel, Strictly Come Dating.  I needn't have worried as I enjoyed it immensely, so take note -  this one isn't just for Strictly fans.  

Maggie is a fabulous character and I loved how she and her friends gathered around the TV each Saturday to watch Strictly together.  They take turns hosting and they're so serious about Strictly that phones and talking aren't allowed during the show.  They all gladly accept the rules until Maggie's friends' brother, Seb, arrives back from Australia and can't hold his tongue.  He finds the show amusing but spends most of the evening watching Maggie, which doesn't go unnoticed by his sisters although Maggie is completely unaware.

Seb is completely smitten with Maggie and he doesn't care that there is a 10 year age gap but Maggie is completely hung up over her age.  I wanted to give her a good talking to as she keeps going on about her age (she's mid-thirties not an OAP) but I could understand her being a bit down on herself after her husband left her and her two fabulous girls.  Seb does his best to bring back the sparkle into Maggie's life and there's nothing more sparkly than Strictly!

I loved the strong family vibe in Strictly Come Dating, both Maggie's relationship with her daughters and Seb's relationship with his sisters.  Maggie's daughters, Penny and Tabby, totally stole the show for me - they are gorgeous girls and a credit to Maggie, with no thanks to her ex-husband, Paul.  When Paul comes back on the scene he's like a Dementor from Harry Potter, sucking out all the fun from their life.  I'm surprised Maggie even let him into the house after he had been absent for two years but then she was thinking of what was best for her girls.

Strictly Come Dating is a fabulously sparkly romance that isn't just for Strictly fans, although Strictly fans will LOVE it.  It's a wonderfully heartwarming read that kept me entertained and left me with a big smile on my face.  I loved it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero. 

I’ve two sons and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), so any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links – 

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

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BLOG TOUR: She's Having Her Baby - Lauren Sams

Georgie Henderson doesn’t want to have kids, but her best friend, Nina, has wanted to have a baby for as long as she can remember. Sadly, Nina’s uterus refuses to cooperate. One drunken evening, Nina asks Georgie for the ultimate favour: would she carry a baby for her? Georgie says yes and spends the next nine months wondering why.

With intense bacon-and-egg roll cravings and distant memories of what her feet look like, Georgie tries to keep it all together in her dream job as the editor of Jolie magazine. Her love life’s a mess – and sauvignon blanc’s off the menu – leaving Georgie to deal with twists in her life she never expected.

Sams has created the Australian Bridget Jones in this hilarious story, an emotive trajectory that pushes the boundaries of rom-com fiction.

What did I think?

I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did.  It sounds like chick-lit with a serious storyline when Georgie agrees to be a surrogate for her best friend Nina, but it has a hilarious twist in the tale.  I laughed so much that I felt as if I'd had an intense tummy workout.  She's Having Her Baby is the best kind of exercise for those out of shape tummy muscles.

Georgie is a brilliant character; I absolutely loved her.  As a career woman with an aversion to babies, she somehow manages to be both selfish and selfless when she offers to carry a baby for her best friend.  Georgie's complete denial when she finds out that she is pregnant is so funny, it's only when she practically bursts out of her bra that it really hits home for her.  I almost choked with laughter when Georgie got fitted fitted for an F-cup and said that the F stands for 'fark me, your tits are massive'. 

Being friends from school, I loved the history that Georgie and Nina have.  Their school reunion is hilarious when Nina tells Kelly, the school bully, what everyone really thought of her.  Never mind rapturous applause from the people in the book, I was punching the air and applauding too.  It's funny how people remember the past differently and I wanted to smack Kelly in the face when she was being all sickly nice to Georgie and Nina but Nina saved me by giving her a well-deserved and well-overdue tongue lashing!

Georgie's job as editor of Jolie magazine reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada with all the minions running around while Meg The Big Boss swishes in and out issuing instructions.  Georgie might thinks she's friends with Meg but I've always said that you don't have friends at work and Georgie finds this out the hard way.  I enjoyed the trips to Georgie's office, as it gave us a little insight into the world of magazine publishing.

With her inimitable Aussie humour, Lauren Sams writes like an Australian Marian Keyes, as she manages to put an amusing slant on everyday observations.  The unbreakable, but often tested, thread of friendship is woven throughout the book so I knew that Georgie would 'get by with a little help from her friends'.  See what I did there?  Lauren Sams adds a few song references now and again and I bet I didn't even spot all of them but it was good fun seeing how she slipped them in there.

Both witty and heart-warming, She's Having Her Baby is as fresh as it is funny.  I loved every single page of it; fans of Lauren Weisberger, Marian Keyes and Helen Fielding should definitely not miss this one!

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:

Buy it from Amazon

Girl 99 - Andy Jones

Before Tom finds The One, he needs to find himself.

When Tom’s girlfriend walks out on him the day before Christmas, he feels humiliated but not necessarily heartbroken. Sadie wasn’t, after all, The One. If we’re being precise, she was number eighty-five.

Tom’s first mistake is sharing this information with his best friend El. His next mistake is listening when El suggests that he bring his eighty-five up to a nice, neat one hundred.

It was never going to be a good idea, not least because everything else in Tom’s life is in complete chaos. His best friend is dying of a slow and cruel disease, his teenage sister is at war with his well-meaning but dogmatic father, his elderly neighbour is having romantic problems (and makes a dreadful cup of tea), and he has to shoot four commercials with four children and a bad-tempered producer.

And then Tom meets Verity. Whether she’s The One remains to be seen, but she’s certainly more than just another number.

What did I think?

I absolutely loved Andy Jones' debut novel, The Two of Us, so I didn't need to think twice before reaching for a copy of Girl 99.  There's something so very refreshing and appealing about Andy Jones' style of writing; it's so honest and genuine that it feels like the book is talking to you.  Although you don't need to have read The Two of Us to enjoy Girl 99 (but seriously you NEED to read The Two of Us), I was thrilled to see the inimitable character of El make another appearance and welcomed him as if he was an old friend of mine rather than Tom's.

Tom is a very multi-faceted and hilarious character.  On one hand he is a lad's lad but on the other he is a loving part of a very close knit family, a family that is stronger than ever after suffering the devastating loss of Tom's mother when his sister was very young.  Tom has almost taken on the mother role as he acts as intermediary between his Dad and his teenage sister, Bianca.

Tom gets himself into trouble and ends up breaking up with his girlfriend, Sadie, when he admits to kissing a colleague, Holly.  When Sadie is collecting her things from the flat she finds Tom's diary (I know, a man with a diary!) but it's more of a notches on the bed post record than a diary as Sadie sees she is number 85 on Tom's list of conquests.  Furious, she then makes plans to get her revenge and it ends up in a superb custody battle over the Mini Cooper!

When Tom meets his friend, El, for a night out to drown his sorrows, El encourages Tom into a bet that he will make it to 100 ladies before a set deadline.  It's a gamble that Tom willingly accepts and sets off on his quest to hit that magic number, but he didn't gamble on falling in love along the way.

So warm, witty and all-round good fun, Girl 99 is as charming as it is hilarious.  Seeing so many sides of Tom, I thought I would despise him for treating women like a number but that's not who he is underneath.  The way he acts with his family and his elderly neighbour, Doug, shows the strength of character he really has.  Add to this Andy Jones' ability to make me laugh on almost every page and you have a winner of a book; I should have known not to read it whilst eating as I almost choked on my rice salad when reading at lunchtime about Tom's first 'dorty book'.  With hilarious quips about Brighton and Paul Daniels, I could not contain my laughter and I was gutted that I had to stop reading to wipe the tears of laughter from eyes.

Another fabulous book from Andy Jones, who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.  A recommended read for anyone who loves a good romcom with an emphasis more on the realism of lad-lit than the mushiness of chick-lit.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Breaking All the Rules - Rachael Richey

Kate is getting married in a month. Richard, her fiancé, is a lawyer: rich, successful, and very good-looking. She’s definitely in love with him. No doubt about that. 

So when Sam, a good friend and her high school crush, returns after eight years of traveling, she doesn’t care. After all, he never actually asked her out, and then he went traveling without her, contrary to their plans. She only agrees to go to dinner with him in order to hear all his news, so why doesn’t she tell him she’s getting married? And is he still bothered by the tragedy eight years ago? 

Sometimes life just gets too complicated, and Kate finds she keeps having Very Bad Ideas, which lead to even more complications. Just three days before her wedding, she finds herself in a situation that demands the biggest decision of her life.

What did I think?

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know how much I loved Rachael Richey's NightHawk series: Storm Rising, Rhythm of Deceit, Cobwebs in the Dark and The Girl in the Painting, so I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an early copy of her new RomCom.  I was equally delighted to see my quote from Cobwebs in the Dark featured in the front of the book - thank you Rachael.

Kate is about to get married to Richard but a chance encounter with her high school crush, Sam, has Kate thinking about IF she marries Richard in a few weeks time rather than when.  Is she crazy to be thinking this way when Sam never even asked her out in Sixth Form?  They say that the heart wants what the heart wants and Kate can't get Sam out of her head, so when Sam asks Kate out on a date she doesn't refuse but she neglects to tell him that she is engaged to be married in a few weeks.  Clearly, she has doubts about the wedding but she doesn't want to let everyone down at this late stage.

After a few dates with Sam, Kate decides to make some effort with Richard and makes a spur of the moment trip to London.  Richard isn't exactly overjoyed to see her and events lead Kate to have further doubts about the wedding.  Spending more time with Sam puts Kate's head and heart in a tizz, although Sam now knows that Kate is about to married.  How does Sam really feel about Kate?  Does Kate really know Richard at all?  This is one problem that cake won't solve although it doesn't stop cake-loving Kate from having a slice or two! 

Breaking All the Rules is written in the same warm and easy flowing manner as we have come to know and love from Rachael Richey.  I really felt as if I knew all of the characters and welcomed them as if they were old friends.  I felt like I was part of Kate's family so I was willing her to wake up and think of herself for a change; you only get one shot at life so you need to make the best of it.  I wanted Richard to man up a bit too as he just felt a bit like a deflated balloon, I think I would have preferred him to turn out to be a bit of a cad.

I do think that the cover could do with a makeover as I don't think I would have picked it up if I hadn't read the author's previous work.  I know we are told that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but unfortunately people often do, which will result in them missing out on this little gem.  It's not often that you get such a page-turner outside of the thriller genre, but the pages turn effortlessly as Kate gets herself in so many scrapes as her wedding day rapidly approaches.  

A superb RomCom with believable and likeable characters that I think is a bit of a modern fairytale - although I'm not telling you whether Kate gets a happy ending or not, but I'm sure she'll get some cake!  If this doesn't leave you reminiscing about your own high school crush, you must have a heart of stone.  

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY: From the Sideline (The Wake-Up Series Book 2) - Amy Avanzino

After losing her marriage, life savings, and waistline, Autumn Kovac is terrified of being hit by more heartache. So when her only child decides to try out for the football team, the overprotective, sports-illiterate mom has a near phobic reaction. But Zachary hasn’t smiled since his father left, and she’s desperate to make him happy (and doing nothing and hoping for the best hasn’t been working). She reluctantly enters a new world of youth competitive sports, full of overzealous coaches with Vince Lombardi dreams and fanatical parents trying to achieve vicarious glory.

Unexpectedly, Autumn begins transforming within this strangely addictive new culture, finding her voice, facing her past, tackling her fears…and uncovering the secret that’s been keeping her from her son. After meeting her ideal catch, she finds herself back in the dating game and discovers some fierce competition of her own. Will Autumn make it off the sideline? Can the underdog finally win? 

What did I think?

A bit like Autumn Kovac, I didn't know the first thing about American Football although I certainly got into the excitement of the game through Amy Avanzino's enthusiastic writing.

Autumn is a single-mom just trying to do the best for her son Zachary.  When Zachary shows an interest in joining the football team, Autumn puts on her best cheerleader-mom face and takes him to the trials.  As the list goes up announcing who has been picked for the team, Autumn is all prepared to sympathise with Zachary but somehow he got picked.  Life as she knows it will never be the same for Autumn.

It's so easy to like Autumn.  She's an amazing Mom, doing everything she can to support her son - being both mother and father has taken it's toll and Autumn had, let's face it, let herself go.  As she commits to get fit with Zachary, you can really see her changing and she certainly catches the eye of a few men involved with the football team, but which one will win Autumn's heart and indeed which one wants to win it?

It was lovely to see Zachary gaining confidence as he progressed in the team.  I felt as if he grew up during the duration of the book as he can finally see everything that Autumn has done for him.  It's so hard for children of broken families but sport really helps in making them feel like an important part of team.  As the saying goes: it's not the winning, it's the taking part that counts.

From the Sideline is a really fun and heart-warming read; it's an amazing testament of a mother's love for her son.  Whether a child is from a single or two-parent family, I don't think it's ever really appreciated how much has been sacrificed or how much unconditional love has been given so freely.  From the Sideline isn't simply chick lit, it's empowering chick lit.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Henery Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am releasing my review as part of the blog tour and if you'd like the chance to win an e-book, I have a wonderful giveaway for you at the end of my post, courtesy of Amy Avanzino.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon


About the author:

Amy Avanzino received a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s from the University of Washington. She is a former special education teacher who has spent the last several years writing and doing extensive hands-on research for her Wake-Up Series, the first of which is Wake-Up Call. She’s a contributing writer of Hap Scotch, a play performed at the 2008 Frigid Festival in New York, which won two Audience Choice Awards. Amy currently lives in the stands above the football fields, basketball courts, and baseball diamonds around Folsom, California with her husband and four children. 

Visit her at www.AmyAvanzino.com.

Amy is very kindly offering 2 e-books of Wake-Up Call and 2 e-books of From the Sideline.

For the chance to win one or both, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.  Open internationally.  Good Luck!

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