Unexpected

This is one of the best books written by Ms Frame. Given her previous work, I wasn't sure how her work would translate into contemporary romance and I was extremely pleased.

Dale and Rebecca work well together even though you wouldn't think these two would mix well under 'normal' circumstances but they do with the unusual turn their lives have taken.

There is some crazy family drama involved that only gets a small mention, however, makes for a very interesting back story that I hope gets its own follow-up novel. I won't give away what it is, but for me, that was truly unexpected about this romance. I hope we get to read more about Rebecca, Dale and their family in a future follow-up novel because there is a lot that can be done here.

It turned a little sappy for my taste towards the end. These two are right up there with my favourite duo: Georgie and Bea.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review

Absolutely loved this journey! Unique and fun characters! Excellent back story! I read it twice in three days!

I love Jenny Frame books. This one was was a intense/"unexpect" look at what make a family. And the work that goes into making a family a safe place to love and grow in.

I liked this book. It was a cute story and the characters were interesting. The writing was good but the editing was not up to par. There were extra and missing and wrong words all over the place. The lack of proofreading to me shows a lack of respect for the author and the story and the readers. And it jars the reader out of the story. The story was a little sappy and a little predictable but I still really enjoyed it. I did find a few places that seemed shallow and more attention could have been given to those aspects, but as a light romance, it was good.

I received a free ebook from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in return for an honest review.

Self-made business owner Dale McGuire has always enjoyed two things in life: women and fast cars. Now in her mid thirties, she’s restless and can’t work out why. Then one day a ten-year-old boy turns up, claiming to be her son, and her simple ordered world turns upside down. Rebecca Harper bears the emotional scars of her father’s crimes, and now she has two rules: never let anyone get too close, and never admit weakness. Thanks to an anonymous egg donor, infertility didn’t stop her from having her son Jake. Now pregnant for a second time, she’s horrified when Jake brings home the woman he believes is his other mother. When distrust turns to understanding and passion, can Dale and Rebecca, two women bound by fate, make a family neither expected?
This is a book in genres I don’t read too often by an author I’d never read before. It was a well-written story with multi-layered characters that I really enjoyed. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

4.5 stars

Dale McGuire built up her car-repair business from scratch. Now that it is a thriving business, and she has had her fill of fast cars and fast women, she’s looking for something a bit more permanent in her personal life. When Jake, a ten-year-old boy, turns up one day claiming to be her son, Dale’s world changes in a day.

Jake’s mum, Rebecca Harper, is stunned to find that her brilliant son has found his birth mother. On the run from the world after escaping from her father’s crimes, Rebecca is terrified of losing her son to his egg donor parent. Bound by their connection to Jake, both women struggle with the aftermath of the revelation, and their possible attraction.

This is a really unusual story. I really liked the unexpected plotline. Frame uses this to great advantage, while pulling in more standard romantic fiction tropes to ground the story into something eminently relatable. It is cleverly written and conceived.

Dale is a classic working-class lesbian who loves working with her hands. Smart and capable, she’s built a business from scratch and works with her best friends. She has enough swagger to catch the eye of any woman she wants, but is bored by it all, and knows she is missing something.

Rebecca is more complex in some ways. Her middle-class upbringing is full of privilege, and she has managed to deal with most of the trauma inflicted on her by a criminal father and a fall from grace for the whole family. The fact that she is still in hiding is an indication of how much is still to come, in terms of plot.

Jake is an interesting creation. Most kids of that age are often not well written, and Jake is better fleshed-out than most. His brilliance excuses his higher knowledge in some areas, and his lack of social skills excuses social faux pas that would normally be difficult to come to terms with for an audience. It’s quite a clever mix, but he never overtakes the main relationship in the book.

The romantic elements were all in place, and there was a nice build up between the two main characters, although there wasn’t a huge amount of heat. Being a bit picky, I’d perhaps like a bit more build up in this case, to overcome the difficulties they both had at the start, and I’d give Dale a few more flaws, as she comes across as a little too perfect at times.

This was an easy book to read, and the different plot line kept it interesting all the way through. The resolution was a little quick, and more could have been developed toward the end here, but it is well resolved and works within the context of the romance. I really enjoyed it, and highly recommend it as a romance.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

This book deserves 10 Stars and I can confidently say it’s the best I’ve read in a very long time. When a ten year old boy turns up at Dale’s garage claiming to be her son life will never be the same. She has lived a life full of women and cars and no responsibility but that is all about to change. Pregnant Rebecca Harper is hiding a family secret and keeps everyone at arms length. She is terrified when Dale comes on the scene. Will she ever be able to trust?

As they get to know each other the attraction is electric and I so wanted it to work out for them. Dale is totally adorable and I defy anyone to resist falling in love with her as they read this beautiful story. A gorgeous butch with a heart of gold she surprises everyone around her, including Rachel. Jenny Frame has written the most amazing love story with the most intensely passionate and sexy love scenes. And I’ll admit to a few happy tears – trust me you won’t be able to hold them back either!

I was given this ARC by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books in return for an honest review.