So I have to confess I have more than a passing interest in you reading this book. Not financial – just because it’s been written by someone I have known for ALL OF HER LIFE! She entrusted me with a very early draft – and I have to say I loved it. Thank goodness. I’m nervous when people I know ask me to read things they’ve written – as you never want to tell someone their baby is ugly (historic guest blog reference for those who have been here since the start!) but I need not have worried, this baby is gorgeous!

Here is the blurb:

“This spicy, second-chance rom-com is a dual POV, set within the small town of Malvern. The first in a series of books, following a quirky, found family as they banter and battle to find love.

He thought there was nothing left to fight for …
He was so WRONG.

Amos is back. He is ready to move on and finally accept that their marriage is over.
But life is never that simple.

Nel has worked hard to heal after the tragedy that nearly destroyed them both and is ready for a fight.
She is not alone … Their meddling friends and his feisty Nanna are Team Nel, are happy to sabotage his plans and are willing to play dirty.

The broken, unforgivable woman he left is no longer broken, seems almost forgivable and is utterly irresistible.
Forced to live together, Amos doesn’t stand a chance.

Nel has just six weeks to prove that she is not the enemy but still the mighty woman he fell in love with.

Because some love deserves a second chance.“

Now I think this needs to come with a couple of warnings up front.

Firstly, this has a few VERY SPICY scenes! The author’s big sister was quite stressed reading these (and was more comfortable giving advice on the placement of semi colons than body parts) but they were a necessary part of the storyline and didn’t feel shoehorned in (and I’m fairly sure no shoehorns were involved). But I do think the spiciness is worth highlighting (and I wouldn’t have bought this for my Nan – although I’ve said that and realised I am someone’s Nan and I was fine!)

Secondly, and it’s mentioned beautifully in an author’s note in the book as seen in the photo below, the author has used her own experience of baby loss as part of the back story. I personally think this was written incredibly well (and obviously it made me cry – both in the book’s storyline, but also because I knew what the author was drawing on) but if it’s something that could be a trigger for you, then you do need to be aware.

So – moving on from my warnings – this is a really great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked both Nel and Amos from the off and really wanted them to work everything out. The supporting cast of family and friends is eclectic and fabulous – and I suspect Nanna will be most people’s favourite. The multi generational friendship group is lovely.

The setting of Malvern – and references to Birmingham – are always going to please me as a Brummie now residing in Worcestershire.

I don’t want to give too much of the storyline away – and I also think there have been some tweaks since I read it – so I do need to re read the final book, but the twists and turns are plentiful and interesting. As well as the aforementioned babyloss – there were other elements of the authors own life experience that I recognised and made it super moving for me (the father of the bride wedding speech had me crying again) but even without the insider knowledge, I still think it would be a fantastic read. I personally love when a book with sexy bits also has a proper storyline and packs some punches on serious topics too – they are definitely not mutually exclusive in real life or literature!

I read a pdf of this last year – but was delighted to receive a hard copy today – which looked beautiful and I’ve taken some sneaky photos (with the author’s permission of course)

The book is out on 28 July 2026 but you can pre-order it for Kindle already. It would make a perfect holiday read, and is a bargain – and you get to read my name in the acknowledgements!

And I’ve possibly never immediately burst into tears when reading a dedication before. #IYKYK