Cover Image: The Promise of Summer

The Promise of Summer

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Member Reviews

Loved this feel-good romance. Great story and great characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

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Rating: 4.5 Stars

Bella Osborne’s The Promise of Summer is a fun, uplifting and feel-good romantic escape that will steal your heart.

Romance is strictly off the agenda for Ruby! Having once optimistically believed that her happy ending was just around the corner, life had quickly taught Ruby that Prince Charming was only to be found in fairy tales and that the men in her life were more likely to break her heart, let her down and do something completely and utterly unspeakable to her kettle! Ruby has given up on men and relationships and she does not plan to change her mind any time soon – until a stranger sits down next to her on the train and blurts out his romantic plan to propose to the woman of his dreams! Maybe a happy ever after is possible and Ruby’s cynicism has caused her to keep everyone at arm’s length and to forego any chance she might have had at happiness?

When the stranger leaves the engagement ring behind, Ruby vows to do whatever it takes to track him down and to ensure that his proposal goes off without a hitch. Ruby will move heaven and earth to ensure that this love story has a happy ending – but she hadn’t counted on fellow passenger Curtis stepping in and insisting that he should be the one to track down the stranger. Ruby is not about to stand in the way of true love and as she and Curtis find themselves making a promise to reunite the ring with its rightful owner over the course of the summer, little do they realise that they might just end up finding their own happy ending…

After a lifetime spent kissing frogs, will Ruby finally find her Prince Charming? Or will she once again have to stand on the sidelines watching other people riding off into the sunset while is left all on her own? This summer is going to be one Ruby will certainly not forget in a hurry!

Bella Osborne never lets her readers down and with The Promise of Summer she has once again penned a fantastic romantic tale I couldn’t read fast enough. Engaging, hilarious and so enjoyable I couldn’t put it down, The Promise of Summer is a touching and heartfelt tale about taking a chance on happiness, the unpredictable paths life takes us down and falling in love that left me with a massive grin on my face.

Brilliantly written, absolutely delightful and a joy from beginning to end, Bella Osborne has done it again with her unmissable new novel, The Promise of Summer!

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This is a delightful and entertaining story, It's very funny at times, but also addictive as well as being such an uplifting read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Book Summary:

This book follows our main character, Ruby. A character who is considerably done with dating because she attracts the same guy(s) over and over again. The cheater, the loser, and ones that do unrepeatable things to her kettle. But that’s all about to change.
When she gets on the train to London, she doesn’t think that she is going to meet Lewis or Curtis. Lewis talks all about his girlfriend and how he is going to propose but accidentally forgets his ring after going onto the platforms to take a call. Then here comes Curtis. The one that is going to help Ruby return the ring to Lewis so he can propose to his girlfriend.
But as summer comes to a close, can Curtis and Ruby get the ring back to Lewis in time or will they be too late? And can these two find their happily ever after?

Thoughts:

I loved this book. This is one of those books that I can see myself reading over and over again and not getting tired of it. This was fantastic especially the relationship that forms between Curtis and Ruby.
While we were getting Rubys coworker’s perspective throughout the novel, I couldn’t help but think I would like a novel just for Kim. I think if Kim had her novel then I could love this character from beginning to end. Also, Kim did lie about her husband saying that she was dead after a heart attack even though he didn’t. He did cheat on her then when he got released from the hospital he didn’t come home so it was just easier to say he was dead other than he didn’t want her.
This is one of those books that I just loved the characters, the setting, just everything that the author created. This book might be in the top 5 books for me of 2021.

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The Promise of Summer sounds like such a hopefully book. I feel like I have memories of the last summer and sunshine and warmth. Although I do hope it is not as hot as last summer...

I was hooked from the moment the man sat on the train and explained about the proposal. So much so that it nearly overtook my desire for a happy ending for Ruby! However there is a great cast of characters and each were perfect. 

I feel that if I go into detail here, that I will spoil the book. And I have to be honest that it is not what I want. I loved Ruby but also her friend Kim and Curtis, the cynical man on the train. Curtis is kinda socially awkward, but in a cute way. 

I loved how Curtis's logic and Ruby's love of romance came together and how it brought them together. This was slow sweet romance that felt so right. There is also a dog - Boomerang - who I think also needs a special mention. Because sometimes I feel you cannot have a book with a dog.

I have to be honest from the blurb of The Promise of Summer, I was not sure how this book was going. I just could not compute the blurb with the title. Luckily I have read and loved other Bella Osborne books. So I put my trust in that and had a lovely time reading. Bella Osborne is definitely an author who can deliver!

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I just reviewed The Promise of Summer by Bella Osborne.

It was a good book and really enjoyed it all and rooted for this couple to make it. Love it all. Gave me a warm feeling.

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This is a delightful feel-good romance full of many twists and turns. I didn't realise till afterwards that it was also a four-parter. The book flowed really well and I was fixated by Ruby's quest to reunite the mystery passenger with his ring. It was a great read and brightens the world up a bit giving us all a bit of hope. I loved the character of Ruby she was delightfully written and very likeable.

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Great characters, heart-warming, and sometimes heartbreaking story. A really warm, fuzzy and funny read. Struggled to put it down.

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Absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are so loveable and you feel that you know them. Bella Osborne is absolutely brilliant at creating these fabulous characters, I do hope there is a follow up book to this one as I need to know what happens to these characters.

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This is such a brilliant book, I just couldn't put it down. It made me giggle out loud, but also was so poignant in places too. Ruby and Curtis are not your average couple, but their developing relationship is all the sweeter for it. The friendship between Ruby and Kim is a great additional thread and the mystery surrounding Kim is intriguing. A great read.

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This book was a little over the top and implausible for me. You have to put all common sense aside to understand how Ruby and Curtis end up together. With that being said, I did find the book to have some funny scenes as well as a few sad ones. Overall, I was rolling my eyes a lot but found it ok at the end.

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This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

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Ruby was on her way to meet her sperm donor when she meet Lewis on the train who is on his way to propose to his girlfriend at the London Eye. Lewis took off with her phone and left her the engagement ring. Fearing that Lewis may have forgotten the ring, Ruby tried to stop the train by pushing the emergency button. She was stopped by Curtis who tries to convince her that he should be the one to track Lewis down and return the ring. The story then continue with their adventure of finding the ring owner and how in the end they found their happy ever after.

This is an uplifting, delightful and entertaining story about a softhearted women with a brainy man. Love their interaction and how different they are and yet their attraction sizzle. The story is easy to read and light.

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Such a sweet and fun read! I read this one with is the fourth in the series (I wish I knew that prior) and then went back and read the whole series.

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This is a great story with a beautiful romance and some charming summery vibes.

I loved each of the three protagonists but I think my favourite was Kim. However, I do think the switch between their narratives was at times a little clunky, and could have been done a little smoother.

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This book by Bella Osborne is definitely a 5 stars book!!!! Bella Osborne is one of my top favorite author and I was not disappointed by this book of hers! It's very entertaining, very fun and funny at times, but also very addictive as you want to know what will happen next, it's a page-turner! 5 stars out of 5 and more!!!!!

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I have read a few books by this author and I have always enjoyed them, her latest book is another fabulous addition. It is the first book in a four four-book series.

Ruby hasn't had much luck as far as relationships go, she is a believer in romance, finding the one and wants to be whisked off her feet, get married, have children and live happily as they do in romance novels.

A train journey makes Ruby felt that romance is truly alive and real, for some people that is. When a fellow passenger tells of his proposal to his girlfriend and then loses the ring she tries her best to think of ways to reunite the ring with its owner. Another passenger also has the same idea.

Curtis is the other helper. He is so different to Ruby and the contrasts between the characters are great. Ruby is impulsive, gets swept up in the moment while Curtis is staid, organised and plans, literally, he will plan everything.

This is such a wonderful story that doe shave quite a few different threads going on in it. Ruby and Curtis are the main characters and they are joined with a wonderful supporting cast of friends. The story starts as trying to return a ring but then gradually deepens. Friendships grow and it is the friendship that is the key for me to this story. Yes, there is a bit of a romantic thread, but friendship rules here.

This is a story that has coincidences, and through these connections are made. And I have to say there are a couple of heartbreaking moments that did cause me to well up a little. I read this book in one sitting so I was well and truly invested in the characters and what happened to them.

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My thoughts


Narrative and Plot 






The Promise of Summer is the kind of book that delivers exactly what it promises. Ha, that's a pun!! Seriously though, it gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling of a pleasant summer day. The plot is pretty simple. Two women in search of their happily ever afters.
However, the story embodies a charm that comes along with an old school rom-com. I loved it for all the pleasant treats it offered me - flowers, chemistry, dogs and of course, the love story.




Characters and Conflicts






Of all the characters, Curtis remained my favorite and understandably so. Him and Ruby had an amazing friendship and an adorable chemistry which makes you crave for more. Adrian and Kim too had a playful yet enjoyable relationship which was kind of unexpected because they were supposed to be the matured couple.

The book gives me a classic Sophie Kinsella or Jill Mansell vibe with its characters and their lives. To top it, the book even gives a nod by mentioning Jill Mansell.

The only thing that I could point out is that the conflict didn't exactly elevate the story. It was set up in such an elaborate manner that you saw what was coming. And the pay off later wasn't as satisfying as the set up.




Conclusion



Overall, The Promise of Sumner is quite an enjoyable romantic tale. If you're looking for a feel good summer beachy book, just to go back in time for the summery warmth, this is the one you want to pick.

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Bella has a wonderful way of writing that draws you in completely!
This book was such a fun read! I loved Ruby and Curtis. They are complete polar opposites who surprisingly find the perfect person in one another. It beautifully showcases that you really can find the perfect person even after many disastrous relationships and that love will find you but you just need to be yourself!

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Ruby has a plan and she can’t wait to put it into action.

On her train journey down to London to realise her dream, she meets Curtis who immediately rubs her up the wrong way.

She also meets Lewis. He is going down to London to propose to his girlfriend. The problem is, he ends up getting off the train with Ruby’s phone and without the ring.

Ruby and Curtis set out together to try and reunite the engagement ring with its owner, getting to know one another along the way.

Oh, I get so excited whenever Bella Osborne releases a new novel and it really is a pleasure to be part of the blog tour for her new book.

Being such a fan, the expectations for The Promise of Summer were high but it did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and read it in pretty much one sitting.

You are pulled straight into the action. I immediately wanted to know what was going on. Was Lewis going to get his ring back? Was Curtis as pompous as he seemed? Was Ruby going to see her dream happen and what was this dream?

I liked how this book was set up going between Ruby and Kim’s point of views. Both these women are different and yet they are dealing with similar things. The fear of being alone.

Ruby is a brilliant, feisty, strong female character and I loved her. Curtis was both lovely and frustrating. Kim made me quite sad to begin with. She seemed to be so lost at the beginning and I liked seeing how she developed through the story. In-fact, every plot line was compelling, relatable, heartbreaking and wonderful all at the same time.

Bella has such a great talent for placing the reader into her book with her descriptions. I could see myself in these places, smell the flowers in the shop.

Bella also does a great job of weaving a lovely, romantic, whimsical feeling into her novels that you feel like you’re having a lovely big hug.

This book is a wonderful antidote to all the horrible things currently dominating the news.

It’s perfect for the summer evenings when you want to just sit down and escape for a while.

Another gem of a novel from Bella. I loved it.

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