Zara Stoneley

Holy cow manure! One of the funniest intros to a book I've ever read. No big surprise since I'm a fan of Zara Stoneley's rom-coms.

Bloody hell, talk about ‘all man’, you can forget your Netflix action-man binges, I’ve got the real deal. On my doorstep! Holding my dog! Well, Georgina’s doorstep and dog, but let’s not be picky.

Remote...check. Cute dog...check. Sexy hot dog owner...check, check. Becky is a book cover designer, illustrator, and black sheep of her family of barristers. show more She's the odd one out. A daydreamer. The creative one. After being dumped by her ex, Teddy the plonker (my new favorite British slang words by the way), she needs to get away for some peace and quiet. So she decides to get away and house sit and dog sit for a social influencer in the beautiful Lake District in Cumbria in northwest England. Little did she know she would fall for the adorable and mischievous, Bella the cockapoo, and Bella's sexy and mysterious owner, Ash James.

Ash is a great guy. His willingness to give his selfish ex time to move on while keeping his beloved dog away from him is "bloody noble" as Becky would say. I laughed at his cheeky bootcamp session with Becky, and I teared up for the reason he loved his dog so much.

The plotline is unique with a couple torn apart by life changes and a dog being held hostage to a love that is no more. Enter poor unsuspecting Becky who is thrown in the middle of the War of the Roses when she's trying to take it easy and find herself again.

Becky and Ash are a great match. They are both adventurous, kind, forgiving, and adore sweet Bella. Watching them slowly fall in love while Becky "finds a me I'm happy with", and Ash opens up to Becky about his troubled past is a charming and memorable journey. But it's is Bella who stole the show with her naughty and rambunctious play, her sloppy wet French kisses, and her love of Ash and Becky. A veritable therapy dog without the credentials. And, of course, there is Bella's hilariously insane and unforgettable birthday party with her fake dog friends. Definitely a YouTube moment!

I recommend this delightful and memorable feel-good rom-com filled with loveable characters, both human and animal, and the extraordinary scenery of the lakes and fell mountains of Cumbria.

Thank you to Ms. Stoneley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

I love British romcoms so I jumped at the chance to read my first Zara Stoneley novel which exceeded my expectations.

Rosie is a dating disaster. She's only been in one relationship that lasted 15 years until he left the country to find himself. She's a bit rusty, to say the least, but when she arranges a first date with a man on Tinder, he's a no show. Who knew the man sitting at the bar next to her would be her ticket to seduction. His name is Noah and he's funny, sexy, a flirt and a serial show more first dater. Not her type at all. He's too much like her dad. And he's offered to give her lessons on dating. What could go wrong?

I love this delightfully funny and endearing romantic comedy! Rosie is such a loveable character who has been emotionally scarred by a shit of a dad and a mother who won't stand up for herself. Her expectations are low when Noah, the gorgeous, kind, and charming player comes along. He becomes her dating teacher and good friend who gives her confidence and encourages her to just be herself. But Noah has no faith in love brought on by some very real tragedies in his life. They are such a great and funny couple who deserve to find love when they least expect it. If you like LOL romantic comedies with a friends-to-lovers theme, give this one a try.

Thank you to Ms. Stoneley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

Oh this one has all the feels and then some!
You'll be laughing, on the verge of tears, ready to smack some sense into a few grade "A" you-know-whats, and making heart eyes at the one it should have been all along. Honestly, Rosie was a dream...and Noah was definitely easy on the eyes AND heart. Despite the one way street Rosie seems to be walking down toward the big "L" that she's avoiding like the plague, you can't but sense that just maybe it might actually be made for two.

All in all, a show more great Rom Com for Contemporary fans that'll give you some memorable one-liners, date prep activities at which to smile and/or blush, and ultimately, that special ZING that comes from possibly uncovering that special someone that's just right for you.


**ebook received for review; opinions are my own show less

Charlotte Brinkley has a small intimate Christmas dinner planned with her finance this year, in hopes that he will present her with a long awaited engagement ring. The trouble is she can’t seem to help herself from inviting half the village to join them.

I really enjoyed this introduction to Tippermere. A crazier more lovable cast of characters, I have rarely read. It was terrific way to battle insomnia, yet I laughed so hard and so out loud that I woke my disgruntled family up just a bit. show more From the crazy way that more people kept getting added to the guest list, to imagining them all squeezing into the dinner table. The pudding disaster brought tears to my eyes, because I could just feel lady Elizabeth’s frustration at the day getting away from her well planned prying. The corners were neatly filled in with the kind of small township drama that keeps the world turning. This is a place and a group of people that I would seriously enjoy reading about for a long time to come. show less