Rachel is a single mom of 8-year-old twin boys from a one-night stand.  She gave it a go with Gavin, the father, but they decided long ago they were better off as friends and co-parents.  Her in-laws and Gavin’s brothers are incredibly supportive and have adopted Rachel into the family.  One problem, she has started to notice something strange between her and Travis, one of Gain’s brothers (and her boy's uncle).  She thinks he hates her, so she is stand offish towards him.  But when she joins the family on their annual two-month holiday (who takes that long of a holiday, but I’m in!!), Gavin is absent, but Travis is there.  Things start to heat up between the two, but can it go any further than a summer fling?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book.  It was funny and light.  At first, I thought it could be a little strange that Rachel and her former brother-in-law were hooking up.  However, it is clearly explained that her marriage to Gavin was truly short lived and he was engaged to another woman.  Once I got over that, smooth sailing with a little heat factor added in!

Okay, I LOVED this book.

Rachel is a single parent to bright and boisterous eight year old twin boys. She strives for perfection in everything she does. As a single mum, with the father not always the most reliable person, I really identified with Rachel. The missed football games, the last minute cancellations of plans? Yup, it's all perfectly captured in this book. But this story is so much more than that.

This is about Rachel learning balance. And respect fof her boundaries (in work and family life). And perhaps most impossible, what true love really looks like, and how to navigate that with children. The love interest comes in the form of Rachel's ex's (and not exactly reliable father of her children) brother.

At first glance this seems wrought with problems. There's an overbearing mother-in-law who loves to get her own way. When she doesn't, she gets an attack of the vapours and starts on about how upset her (imaginary) cat will be. This makes for some hilarious interactions. And then, of course, there's the familial connections. But the chemistry is tangible between Rachel and Travis. A chemistry that was never ever really there between her ex-husband and her. Still, there'sa lot to navigate in their pursuit of happiness. The point in the story when the extended family discover their relationship is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.

The denouement is extremely satisfying and the epilogue? *chefs kiss*

A new writer to me, there's an ease to Christina Hovland's storytelling that immediately envelops you, draws you in and puts you at ease I will definitely be reading more of her work.

One final note: the chapter quotes from readers about motherhood are HILARIOUS and painfully accurate!

Favourite Quotes:

* “Limits don’t mean you’re weak.” He traced his fingertip down her forehead, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She hadn’t bothered taking out the knot she’d put it in when he came into the room. “They actually mean you’re strong enough to recognize the importance of the other things in your life.”

* The thing about perfection, she realized, staring at that damn scale, was that it didn’t really exist. It’s a phantom that drove her to try to do better when she was doing her very best to begin with. Turned out, sometimes making a mess of things actually made her happier.

Rated: ❤❤❤❤❤
Heat rated: 🔥🔥🔥
Emotional rated: 💓💓💓

(Review also submitted to Amazon UK and Barnes and Noble - but awaiting moderation)

I really liked all the Christina Hovland novels I’ve read and I have to say that I was very curious to start a whole new story!

Rachel didn’t have an easy life so far. Divorced and mother of twins, an absent ex-husband and a job that takes up a lot of her time… She’s handling it all as well as she can, even if it’s far from easy. So it’s all the more panicky when, for the twins birthday, Gavin, Rachel’s ex, gives them two puppies without even talking to her about it! Rachel’s already complicated life will become even more complicated! But she sees a glimmer of hope when her ex in-laws offer to take the children for the holidays. But Gavin had to be there, and at the last minute he ducks out, forcing Rachel to follow her boys. This is also where Gavin’s handsome brother, Travis, is. And if things haven’t gone so well between them so far, it looks like this trip is going to change everything.

It was a really nice novel and I loved following Rachel and Travis. Our heroine has to fend for herself and people take advantage of her all the time. So when her feelings for Travis get complicated, she doesn’t know how to start dealing with it.

As I was saying, I had a great time with this novel and I am thrilled to have discovered a new novel by this author. I’d be happy to recommend it to you!

Wow! This book is fun and funny and made me take a closer look at my own life. As a fourth-generation perfectionist, it was very easy for me to sympathise with all of Rachel’s control freak tendencies. Looking in from the outside, it was also really easy for me to see all the ways they weren’t working for her. The family and client dramas added extra layers of difficulty to her already over-loaded plate and made my heart break for Rachel at the same time as I wanted to smack her for letting things get so very out of hand. Travis was sweet and charming, and I hurt for him every time we saw somebody judge him for who he used to be rather than the man he had become. I think I’ve gone and fallen in love with this whole family and all their friends and I’m desperately hoping there will be more books with them in the future.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

A enjoyable well-paced read that I hated to see end. Although I’m not a mom, felt a kinship with Rachel and her issues with work/social life boundaries.  I was hooked from the first interaction between Rachel and Travis.  Molly was hilarious and I’d love to l read a whole book focusing on her.

Perfection takes a break to find happiness and love
Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Hovland is a very well written, entertaining romance full of humor, heart, twin boy shenanigans and a little bit of  steamy, forbidden, off-limits attraction.  Rachel, super mom extraordinaire, is a confident yet vulnerable workaholic, striving for perfection in all things in her life.  Travis is her opposite, and in the romance world, that means he’s her perfect, she just doesn’t know it yet.  Travis is sweet with a bad boy vibe, lots of misunderstanding about him and his life, but he’s truly an all around great guy!  
The plot explores, with humor and tons of heart, Rachel and Travis really learning about one another and finally taking action.  The uncertainty of Rachel’s thoughts and feelings made this book ’unputdownable’.  Not to mention Travis’s determination, understanding and persistence if meeting Rachel where she was, encouraging where she needed to go and accepting what she needed in every moment.  Swoon worthy hottie and then some! 
Overall an exceptionally well written romance I thoroughly enjoyed.  Rachel and Travis’s love story is full of emotional discovery, life/work balance, humor, family and a new kind of perfection just right for their HEA.
I read an ARC of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily share my review.

Rachel, Out of Office was my first Christina Hovland read but not my last! It was such a fun, quirky and lovely book (just like the main character).⁣
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Even I can’t relate to Rachel’s life situation, as I am not a single mom of 8-year old twin boys, her journey resonated with me. It isn’t easy to accept help and take a break when you want everything to be perfect. The author managed to portrait her life, thoughts and personal development flawlessly throughout the book. ⁣
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What I liked the most was Rachel’s love for her boys and her support network - both her friends and her former in-laws. I might have to start having Sunday cocktails with my friends when/if we become parents in the future. Who could say no to margaritas in the park?⁣
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Rachel’s former brother-in-law Travis is such a dreamy character too. He is misunderstood because he doesn’t always show how he feels. It is still clear that he cares for his family (especially his nephews and later Rachel). Even some might consider their romance as a taboo, it was written in a way that makes it sweet and acceptable. ⁣
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Bonus points for starting each chapter with a new quote. I laughed out loud more than once while reading them. I also loved the book cover - it sums up the book perfectly.⁣

Once again, Christina Hovland gives you laugh out loud, in a new series. Seriously, anytime I read her books, I am usually bursting out laughing and getting looks from anyone around. Rachel is a single mom, to twin boys (you can imagine how crazy that is), and eventually twin puppies (thanks to a clueless dad). She’s a stay at home mom, runs her own business, and pretty much does it all by herself. Gavin, the boys’ dad, isn’t around as much as he should be, so his brothers step in when he can’t. Travis, one of his brothers, shows up a lot, and gets under Rachel’s skin in quite a few ways. But when she has to take Gavin’s place at the family vacation get away for the summer, things between her and Travis start really heating up. There are lots of laughs here, lots of sweet & tender moments, and lots of love. I’m so looking forward to more of this series!!

HJ Recommended Read!

If you are up til the wee hours in a manic sleep-deprived state courtesy of motherhood, career demands and the weighty burden of perfectionism, then this is definitely the novel to keep you company before you fall into a pit of exhaustion. 

Rachel, accidental mother of twin boys, is relatively happy with her co-parenting arrangement save for the fact that her ex-husband Gavin appears to be increasingly flaking out in favour of his new fiancé’s whims. Thankfully, she has a great network of women around her and her ex-In-laws appear to be picking up some of the slack in Gavin’s absence. 

As things increasingly get heated and day to day living becomes a mini-circus, Rachel’s 19 hour days are given some reprieve by the offer to holiday with her ex-In-laws for the summer with the promise that Gavin’s brothers Travis and Dave will happily remain on nephew-sitting duty. As the semi work-holiday for Rachel begins, it is clear that the usual animosity and banter between her and Travis is shifting into something far more intriguing and as the season unfolds, some sneaky clandestine activities begin to challenge Rachel’s self-concept and potentially create a significant rift in what for all intents and purposes is a successful family arrangement.

For many women, giving everything 110% often feels like it will never be enough, and the enormity of balancing everyone else’s happiness and wellbeing to the detriment of your own, is simply part and parcel of the invincibility persona that sits as a contemporary undercurrent . Rachel, despite her evident privilege, is created with such concepts in mind, and is a thoroughly engaging character that many women will instantly relate to. Her secretive raunchy tryst with Travis is definitely more than just food for thought, working to raise questions around what has to be sacrificed in order to feel semi-human again. 

Whilst a little plot-light, in the sense that the real dramatic element resides in unpacking the thematic intent, Rachel,out of Office will be gobbled down quickly by many and hopefully for some, will correspond with some well earned ‘me time’, and pave the way for a solid 8 hours of sleep.

This book has it all!  She's a single working mom who thinks she can do it all on her own.  And she does.  I'm not a mom, but I could identify with Rachel.  The book is full of humor, but also full of heart.  I loved the chemistry between Rachel and Travis!  I had a huge crush on Travis.  The characters were fun and there were a lot of laugh out loud moments.  I really didn't want the book to end.  I've read other books by this author and have enjoyed them all.  I can always count on a book that makes me laugh and gives me all the warm and fuzzy feelings a good romantic comedy should!  I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a great book!
Rachel’s life is loud, messy and chaotic. What do you expect? She’s co-parenting twin boys with her ex. And he’s failing on his end.
Now imagine, a hunk steps in to help.
So he’s her former brother-in-law? Who cares?
I laughed out loud, when I was reading this book.
I sighed at the romance.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I wanna say thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the arc to review I did like this one a lot and it made me realize that I should not work so hard all the time and try to enjoy life. I also loved the cover it is so cute I love the dogs and the tanglement

This book was pure perfection! It gave me all the feels and I couldn’t put it down!
Not only did I find Rachel extremely easy to like, but she was completely relatable! As a mom myself, I could easily commiserate with Rachel and all the juggling of never ending tasks. I loved that she was not only a great mom for her boys, but she truly did everything to stay friendly with her ex.
From the very first interaction between Travis and Rachel at the twins game, the chemistry was undeniable! Travis was the perfect blend of misunderstood, caring, playful, and downright sexy! I loved how Travis was the perfect balm for all the chaos in Rachel’s life. He truly was the perfect partner.
I’ll admit that I was far from a Gavin fan in the beginning, but his situation at the end definitely tugged on my heartstrings a bit. We all deserve love and happiness, and I hope that there’ll be a book where he can find his! Maybe with Molly *wink* *wink*!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my own honest opinion.

What a delightful little read. I loved every minute. The story is interesting, characters are amazing, and it has enough drama and romance to keep the readers wanting more. I'd definitely recommend this book to all romance lovers. As far as I'm concerned, this is a must-read.
Rachel is a single mom who is trying to raise her twin sons well. Her ex-husband shares custody, but the truth is he isn't much help. However, his brothers help whenever possible, because she's considered a part of the family. Her kids are a handful, her job is a headache, and she's having difficulty juggling everything. So when her ex's family insists that she go with them to their summer house, she is reluctant. And it seems that her ex is going to let her down once again.
Then Travis swoops in like a prince and promises he would do everything to make her life easier. She isn't ready to accept his help, as tempting as it is. But in the end, she relents, and that's how their story takes a turn for the better. One thing leads to another, and now Travis has become far more important to her than he should be. What will happen when her ex finds out that she has fallen for his brother? Even worse, what if they didn't work, and it affected her twins? There is too much at stake, but for the first time she feels she has met someone worth the risk.
This is an adorable story, and I loved all the characters so much.

As a mom, I loved the quotes in the book and could totally relate from a mom point of view. In Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Hovland, Rachel as a divorced mom to twin boys, does it all. Travis, the boy’s uncle is around to pick up the slack from their dad always missing out. Despite the initial dislike between Rachel and Travis, you can tell right away that there is probably more to the tension. As soon as the boy’s dad backs out on their summer vacation, Rachel takes his place. What happens at the lake house, didn’t stay at the lake house.... Despite getting this as an ARC through NetGalley from the publisher, I would’ve bought this on my own. This book made me laugh out loud at times and I completely fell in love with the characters. I would totally recommend this book to others!

Rachel, Out of Office is an over-the-top cute romantic comedy.  It’s a sweet romance with a bit of heat.  The book features a single mom of twins, a pushy, ex-mother-in-law, and a trio of handsome brothers.

I couldn’t help but root for Rachel.  She’s got her hands full with eight-year-old twin boys and an ex-husband who keeps missing the mark when it comes to his kids. I identified with her super organization skills, and I loved her network of girlfriends. If you’re a mom, you’re going to love Rachel and relate to the pressure she puts on herself to do it all. Ex-husband Gavin is not financially a deadbeat, but he is frequently a no-show in his boys’ lives.  Thankfully, his brothers Dave and Travis are devoted to their nephews. 

The pace was very enjoyable and allowed for thorough character development.  Thankfully, there is no real angst, but there is some family drama given the unconventional romance in the story.  The family dynamic—especially as it pertains to the matriarch (ex-MIL)—is great. Evelyn’s passive-aggressive commentary about her cat’s feelings is hilarious!  I loved highly-relatable Rachel and her friends, and I fell hard for Travis.  However, what really made this book for me was the realism.  The characters and plot are organic and authentic.  

What some might consider almost a taboo romance, is made into an acceptable, unconventional romance by author Christina Hovland.  I enjoyed the book, but found the humor to be more smirk-worth rather than laugh-out-loud. Perhaps, the situations hit a little too close to home for me. Rachel, Out of Office provided many smiles and brought back memories (both fond and stressful) of trying to do it all and just wanting someone to make me a really good margarita.


4.5 stars

Lately, I've found myself drawn to books with more ''adult'' topics. Not adult as in erotic, but as in books that deal with adult life struggles. This book was a pleasant read, and even though my life has nothing to do with Rachel's (I'm not divorced, I don't have twins.....), I could feel her and relate to her.

Thank you the publisher and @netgalley for a copy of this book. I loved the unconventional romance in the book and all the fun family dynamics of the Frank family. I think all parents can relate to Rachel who tries to be the best mom and best in her career. I loved the tension and chemistry between Rachel and her love interest. This was my first book by this author and I will check out her backlist.

So this book... What bought me was the cover, then  I read synopsis...and I just needed to read it...
And after reading this one, I have a dopey smile on my face, that how good this was .
If you need a hot and seamy romance, you will not find it here. Yes, there are hot moments, but this book is not just a romance. It is a romance book about family, about how hard is to be a single parent, and that everybody needs, sometimes, a little help.
Rachel is a star and the soul of this book, yes, yes Travis is great, and he has his own universe, but Rachel is just the glue that holds her family together. 
In some parts of the book I just could feel her struggle to do everything perfect. And I just know how crazy and hard that is.
I love that she is a mum, and that her kids are just the most important  parts of her life.
I didn't hate her ex, he is a good dad ( when he is around) and he really cares about her and the kids....
And there is Travis... OMG... How can someone be so perfect?! He is kind,smart, funny, hot,hot,hot and crazy about Rachel and his nephews. He is like a Co dad to them.

And I just love the whole family. 

This was a good, funny, family themed romance. 

4.5 stars for me

This is one of those books that makes me wish we could give half starts, it wasn't quite a five for me but it was definitely a 4.5. I love the cover of this book and now I have finished reading I can see that it fits the books so well. 

Rachel, is a single Mum to two very adventurous twin boys. Her ex Gavin, whilst in the pictures isn't exactly reliable as he is setting up home with his new fiancé and tends to cancel on the boys a lot, to keep her happy. Rachel used to this has adapted the attitude of just get on with it, in his absence and get things done all whilst running her own business from home.

I don't want to give away too much of the story but needless to say Gavin, gifts the boy with inappropriate birthday presents and Rachel is left reeling and as usual stuck having to get on with things. This is when we meet Travis, Gavins Brother, he try's to step in and help Rachel in Gavin's place.Rachels has never been close to him, as Gavin has always portrayed him as a 'waste of space and a 'womaniser' but he proves his loyalty and that he cares for her and the boys, and the two hit it off and become friends. 

Rachel is looking forwards to having sometime to herself to catch up on work and spend some quality time with her girlfriends, whilst Gavin takes the boys on a annual family Lake trip with his parents and bothers. But in true Gavin style he cancels and in order to not to disappoint the boys Rachel gets talked into taking his place and all hell breaks loose.

I have to say there a couple of things I like most about this book, one is the friendship circle Rachel has with her girlfriends, where weekly they all meet in the park with cocktails and snacks. Helping each other out with the kids or just having a listening ear for each other. The other think, is the 'motherhood wisdom quote' as a heading for each chapter. The author has asked readers to submit quotes for her to use within the book. Great idea so her readers feel part of the story and some of them were absolutely hilarious!

"New assume it's chocolate, always sniff test." - Angela, Queensland, Australia

"Sometimes I really wish I would've had swallowed." Nicole, Utah, USA

I even sported out loud whilst reading some of these. Brilliant!! This is the first book I have read bu the author Christina Hovland but it definitely won't be the last.

Thanks to Entangled Publishing, the author Christina Hovland and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due for publication 25th January 2021.

My rating scale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Absolutely loved it! Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling or made me cry. And took me on an emotional rollercoaster.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Really liked it. Will read more by the author and other books in the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - It was just okay, didn’t move me, but don’t feel like I wasted me time reading it either.
⭐️⭐️ - Didn’t like this book and probably won’t read other in the series.
⭐️ - I did not care for this book at all and feel like I wasted my time reading it