Girl On The Run
After a humiliating split from her celebrity ex, Jane is hiding from the spotlight. She’s moved city, moved jobs and changed her hair. She wants to disappear and finish her training as a patent attorney.
Marshall has worked hard for years and nomination to the partnership is tantalisingly close. He must avoid scandal at any cost.
When they meet, their attraction is impossible to ignore. Neither wants a fuss, but with the paparazzi following Jane and an office trouble maker determined to sabotage their relationship, they can’t escape unscathed.
Girl on the Run is the first in a series of standalone contemporary romances. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane or Sue Moorcroft.
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Review
In a refreshing twist on the rockstar romance, the rockstar is the ex and the heroine gets the grovel! This was a light and enjoyable romance about two normal people navigating the trials of everyday life while falling in love at the most inconvenient time. Marshall is a bit of a stickler with his younger sister but he is hard-working and has such a good heart. It's no surprise that the office is in love with him! I really admire Jane's tenacity at starting afresh and her determination, even after having her world upended. I did find her a little naive and overly trusting, you'd think she'd be better at picking out insincerity.
Speaking of insincerity, I found it really interesting how the events at Jane and Marsh's workplace reflect recent events in law firms locally. It made it realistic but not necessarily the most satisfying. I did like the rest of the staff, especially Jim, whose advice to Marsh and communications with his own wife Louise carried much of the humour.
It's worth noting that this is a semi-epistolary novel, with lots of plot-relevant communication occuring via email or text. This is quite a useful way to give readers context while maintaining the POVs, but takes a while to get used to.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to fans of contemporary romance who prefer it more sweet than steamy and more funny than angsty (though it does have it moments of both of the latters!). Best enjoyed on your day off so you can feel smug at all these characters stressing about work.
Twenty two year old Stevie needs to prove to everyone that she’s a grown up. So she throws herself into her dream of becoming an event planner by agreeing to organise a fundraising ball in Oxford. Add a rambling house, a committee that can’t agree and budget that’s far too small, Stevie thinks things can’t get worse. Until her childhood crush, her big brother’s old housemate, turns up.
Tom is working hard to be the success his mother wants him to be. When he realises that the ball his mum and her friends are organising will be run by his friend’s baby sister ‘poor, needy Stevie’, he steps in to avoid disaster. But Stevie is no longer a teenager, she’s a disturbingly attractive young woman … and she’s not about to let anyone get in her way.
Shortlisted for the 2017 Romantic Comedy Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Girl Having a Ball is the second standalone novel in Rhoda Baxter’s Smart Girls series. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sue Moorcroft.
Purchase Link - https://books2read.com/GHAB
Review
Less funny but more compelling than the first book in the series, I enjoyed the character arcs both Stevie and Tom experienced - Stevie in standing on her own two feet, and Tom learning that a successful career isn't all it's cracked up to be. I especially liked Stevie having to deal with teenagers and realising how awful she must have been at the same age.
Despite the short time frame, I believed in their relationship due to their history and a lot of quality time during ball preparations. I love that it showed Stevie's creative abilities and everyone working together to get the job done - Tom's niece Alice provides a nice foil to the youth everyone sees in Stevie and she says some truths that the adults are too polite to mention. There's a few plot threads that felt a little glossed over as Stevie and Marsh's sibling relationship took over the B plot, but I liked how the story overall ended up at a satisfying and logical conclusion.
Best enjoyed in your favourite dancing shoes, come and spend some time behind the scenes of the hottest party in Oxford!
Disclaimer: I received these books from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
Author Bio
Rhoda Baxter writes romantic comedies about people who make her laugh. A microbiologist by training, Rhoda loves all things science geeky. She also loves cake, crochet and playing with Lego. You can find out more about her (and get a free book by signing up to her newsletter) on her website.
Social Media Links
Websites: www.rhodabaxter.com
Twitter: @rhodabaxter
Facebook page: https://en-gb.facebook.com/RhodaBaxterAuthor/
Bookbub profile link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rhoda-baxter
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