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The Blurb
Can the city of love mend a broken heart?
Romance author Tessa Elliot has writer's block, and worse - she isn’t sure she still believes in love. To heal her broken heart, she decides to go on the romantic break in Paris she’d booked before her world fell apart.
But when she arrives at the Airbnb, Tessa is stunned to find someone is already there. Her ex’s best friend Ethan has made himself at home, being told that the place would be empty.
As it’s Paris Fashion Week, and with no other options, they agree to share the apartment. Neither will be in the place much after all, with Ethan taking a cookery course and Tessa on a hard deadline to finish her novel.
But sharing close nights in a one bed apartment, there’s an undeniable pull towards one another.
Will Tessa be able open her heart, and her laptop, ever again?
My Review
Whilst this isn't my first review of the year it was my first completed read. This was a lovely book to kickstart my reading year. It was light-hearted but also had something important to say.
The main character, Tessa is a best-selling romance author. She loves writing but when she realises her boyfriend Joe has been cheating on her, she finds it hard to believe in love anymore. Quite the dilemma for a romance writer who consequently has writers block. She even considers returning the advance that she received from her publishers who are waiting for her next novel but she has had to spend it on a deposit on a flat now that she is no longer living with Joe. She hopes that a trip to Paris might inspire her but upon her arrival at the apartment that she rents she discovered Joe's best friend, Ethan, has already taken up residence.
The chemistry between Tessa and Ethan was extremely well executed. I could feel their attraction, as well as their doubts and fears, oozing from the pages. Both of them are scared of getting into another relationship, particularly with each other after the mess that has been left behind by Joe.
It was impossible to read this and not hope for them to overcome their doubts and get together somehow. There is a real 'will they/won't they' vibe running throughout the whole book, and I found myself reading faster as I really wanted to know the outcome.
However, the message running throughout this book is one of self-acceptance. We need to love ourselves regardless of other people before we can move forward in life. I thought the author conveyed this message very well in this novel.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary romance novel based in a beautiful setting. Paris is an important element of this story and is almost a character in itself.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1835189702
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback
No. of Pages: 296 (paperback)
Pre-order Links (releasing on 19th January 2025)
About the Author
Victoria Walters is a full-time author living in Surrey. Victoria writes sweet and spicy rom coms including the BookTok viral hits THE LOVE INTEREST and THE PLOT TWIST. She used to work in publishing and a bookshop, and has been a bookworm since childhood.
Victoria is also the author of the bestselling uplifting and romantic series GLENDALE HALL and the cosy crime series THE DEDLEY END MYSTERIES.
You can also find Victoria at:
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