This book is the perfect Summer read, it is about Ruby who has been fairly unlucky in love, all she wants is someone to love her unconditionally is that too much to ask for? she is on a train going to a very big appointment that will hopefully change her life for the better when a guy tells her he is about to pop the big question to his girlfriend. Ruby gets caught up in it all aswell as having a spat with a fellow passenger, who becomes more involved later, things quickly start to go wrong and can Ruby save the day? Will love ever blossom for her? I got whisked away in Ruby's world and didn't want to leave, I felt as though Ruby was my friend where I was willing her on and also asking her to take a step back and look at what direction she wants her life to go in. I just wanted her to be happy. I loved the way the story flowed and how you felt as though you were there, it really was such a splendid read, perfect for a Summer read.

This book was beautiful. I loved the slowly building friendship between Ruby and Curtis. Curtis is my favourite character, I loved his naivety and innocence. He sees things in black and white and everything is dictated by logic, which can be so relatable. Watching Ruby open his eyes and allow him to experience life in a new way was lovely. However his methodical thinking and planning also got Ruby to really think about her own life and goals and see things from a different perspective. It just goes to show that you really don’t know what you want until it’s right in front of you. Curtis ticked all Ruby’s boxes but not in an obvious and conventional way.
Kim’s storyline was interesting too, there was a lot of twists and turns in there and that moment when she takes an extra bouquet with the wedding flowers, I had an inkling as to why but to read that it brought Adrian to tears really moved me.

This book had a bit of everything and it was a delight to read, it flowed so effortlessly and I really connected with the characters.

The Promise of Summer - Bella Osborne

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily

After years of dating losers, cheats and one guy who did something unrepeatable to her kettle, Ruby has all but given up on romance. But then a stranger sits next to her on a train to London and explains his plan to propose to the woman of his dreams. Maybe true love does exist after all?

When the man accidentally leaves the engagement ring behind, Ruby is determined to save the day. But she hasn't counted on fellow passenger Curtis stepping in and insisting he should be the one to track the stranger down. 

The Promise of Summer has been released as four parts - this is my review of the entire book. I initially reviewed the first 10 chapters (Part One) and I was hooked so when I was given the opportunity to read the book in its entirety I jumped at the chance.

This book is filled with great well-written characters, most are very likeable but there are a few baddies thrown in for good measure. It is full of romance, second chances, friendship, forgiveness and a lot of spontaneity.

It is a perfect read for a summer evening. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of Bella.

Rating 5/5

I would love to see a sequel to this book

I’d read part one of The Promise of Summer but was pleased to receive an advance copy of the full book and couldn’t wait to devour it. I’ve enjoyed every one of Bella Osborne’s books and I’d say this one is her best yet.

Ruby’s life is about to change forever. She’s sick of dating losers and decides that romance is not for her. Until a chance meeting with a stranger on a train to London. He explains his idea to propose to his girlfriend and Ruby wonders if true love perhaps does exist. When he leaves the engagement ring behind on the train, Ruby is determined to reunite him with it but another passenger, Curtis believes he should be the one to return the ring. This book is full of wonderful characters and the book moves along at a great pace. Each chapter left me eager to read the next one. Beautifully written this is definitely a five star book. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

Bella osborne is a gem of an author and again a book that absolutely did not disappoint.....full of humour, relationships, a dog and a flower shop....what is there not to love.

Kim owns a flower shop and employs Ruby. That have a great working, friendship.
Ruby is always on the look out for love, previous relationships always ending disastrously. Now she has changed her game and is looking for a sperm donor. An unusual friendship forms after a chance meeting with Curtis.....socially awkward, hard working and single. Ruby finds herself beginning to coach Curtis to begin to embrace life and live.

Kim has had a relationship which ended suddenly. Whilst her interest is piqued by a regular customer, his daughter has other ideas as to how things should progress. Add into the mix an adopted manic dog, a returning husband and a wedding with no flowers....how can anything go wrong.

An absolute gem of a book.....highly recommend. Thank you avon and net galley for this advanced copy....Loved it.

The Promise of Summer by Bella Osborne is an amazing contemporary romance that had me laughing out loud and also gushing with happiness from beginning to end.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say, “How have I missed her all my life?!”. This is fabulous!

This book is ingenious. It is the perfect combination of quick wit, excellent plot, character cast, sass, one-liners, humor, seriousness, and romance. Everything balances perfectly.

The banter, sarcasm, and straight out LOL humor between Kim, Ruby, Adrienne, and Curtis was perfect. It fits my personality to a T. It was balanced perfectly with the serious undertones of love, loss, finding yourself, and finding a future . There were a few twists and turns, but everything was realistic and authentic. Yet, this book was a perfect escape from the downs of life.

I love the progression of not just Ruby and Curtis and Kim and Adrienne, but also of Kim and Ruby themselves. They really found out who they were meant to be. Add in a dash of Boomer and Seymour, and some fiery Grandmothers, and you have got yourself a hit of a novel.

I cannot recommend this book enough and I am checking out the rest of Ms. Osborne’s books.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Avon Books UK for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

A chance meeting on a train gives Ruby the hope that romance is alive and well, even if it needs a helping hand. She’s desperate for a knight in shining armour to come into her life and this handsome stranger seems to fit the bill, even if he is about to propose to someone else. When he accidentally leaves the engagement ring on the train she is determined get it back to him. She doesn’t expect to be deterred by another passenger.

I loved Ruby from the start, she’s open, generous and desperate for love. Having recently lost her mum, there is a big hole in her life that she needs to fill, and having kissed so many frogs, she’s desperate for Prince Charming to come into her life. This is a lovely read, funny, entertaining and a really nice read. The characters are entertaining, realistic and easy to empathise with. It’s comfort reading with several plot lines and an unexpected twist. Well worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After reading and loving part one I was delighted to receive the rest of The promise of summer!
The promise of summer is a delightful, quirky, funny read that I totally adored from start to finish! Charming,eccentric characters in Ruby and Curtis and their relationship progression is hilarious, illuminating and totally random but works so well! So much to rave about in this book friendship, second chances,spontaneity, forgiveness and underlying it all love! Kim and Adrians tortuous relationship, Boomers second chance of a loving home, the care home residents, and the fantastic journey that ruby and Curtis found themselves on that all began in the quest for a sperm donor and to reunite a ring with its owner but led to so much more!
Would so love to see a sequel to this brilliant read, would highly recommend to all!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!

This book was a real surprise - Ruby's journey on the train to London certainly had an unexpected ending with some unknown characters.

I read this book really fast, it was enjoyable, sad and laugh out loud funny in one book. I loved the parts about when Ruby went to the Old People's Home and the love and affection she shared for every person she met.

This story was also all about lies and deception, but had very unexpected twists and turns.

Kim's story is one that could stand alone - and love how this story included dog adoption.

If anyone needs to smile, you need to read this book!

Two love stories in one . I loved Curtis , he was an amazing character . Made you laugh about the spreadsheets. I won’t spoil it about Lewis but wow. I loved the flower shop and some of their customers. Kim was great. I am glad everyone had a happy ending. Nice to read about an old people’s home in a happy way. A great read.

Ruby and Curtis meet on a train, and then end up spending the day together, trying to return a lost engagement ring to it's owner.
Will it be a case of opposites attract?

It also follows the story of Kim, Ruby's boss, and Aiden who meet through the flower shop where Kim and Ruby work.

A great read, loved the characters, especially Curtis.

This story is hilarious! It is also heartwarming, sad at times and optimistic. Ruby is a unique person, has a heart of gold and is a bit of an accident waiting to happen, however she always has the best intentions. Nothing planned works out, and sometimes that is for the best! Curtis is extremely intelligent, very talented in his career and dreadfully socially awkward. When fate brings these two together, it makes at an amazing tale.

If you have not read anything by Bella Osborne in the past, this is a great way to be introduced to her writing. I think you will love this story and her other work.

This book was originally released in 4 parts. I was gifted part 1 and loved it so much and immediate purchased parts 2, 3 and 4! Unfortunately, I would have to wait until each was released (each part was released a few weeks apart). After I read part 2, I was then gifted an early copy of the entire book! That was such a treat since I was so engrossed in the story, and I definitely did not want to wait to find out the rest of the story.

Bella Osborne is a fairly new-to-me author, and I am so happy I found her. I love her writing style. She creates the most endearing characters. Also, she molds scenes with such expert skill that I am reading along and, bam, I am laughing out loud and don't even realize that it was coming until it is there.

I love this story and highly recommend it. Life does not go smoothly for the characters, but things will work out in the end. That is the main reason I like to read romance books. They will always have a happy ending.

I want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is done freely as a hobby of mine, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC. (I will also note, as I said in my review, I also purchased this book in parts, prior to the entire book being released.)

Loved this book. Ruby's decided to give up on love. She then meets a stranger on the train. Curtis is nothing like the usual guys she meets. They then go on a journey trying to find Ruby's phone and give an engagement ring back. Funny and emotional. Read it in 2 days

An enjoyable read with some touching moments and a number of amusing moments that make me chuckle (I read in bed & my repeated shoulder shaking from quiet laughter woke my husband up!)
I read the first part of this book which frustrated me when it ended just as the story was warming up, so I was pleased to read the whole story together in this book - a much more enjoyable way of reading rather than in parts waiting for the next.
I like the two-fold story, featuring the day-to-day lives & challenges in their romantic lives of both main character, Ruby and her friend & boss, Kim.
I’m not sure whether Curtis, a stranger Ruby meets on the train and ends up developing a friendship with is meant to be neurodiverse or just a bit odd. I found that he was portrayed a little too ‘different’ to be seen as just a quirky individual. I realise his literalness and difficulty in, and complete lack of understanding of, relationships and friendships lent itself to the main interactions between him and Ruby and some of the more comedic misunderstandings between them. However, I found my attention was wandering as to whether this was just a personality trait or caused by something beyond this and whether this was the point.
The premise of the entire storyline is completely unbelievable (accompanying a stranger you met an hour previously into an important meeting and they to a sperm donation appointment??) but, it’s a work of fiction after all, so it didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book.

What a sumptuous book. I laughed, I cried. It totally enveloped me. So beautifully depicted. I simply loved it. My first time reading a Bella Osborne but I'll certainly be checking out her previous novels. Just what I needed this weekend.

With an opening line like this one I knew this book would be right up my street.

I love Ruby she is a bit of a wild child and is Lewis a thief or was it just a pure accident?

I didn't like Curtis at first on the train but really warmed to him in the end and they try and solve the mystery of the ring.

Well written and such likeable characters who each have their own dramas going on.

Such a fun humorous book that I really enjoyed.

The Promise of Summer by B. Osborne, published by Avon Books UK, is a witty, flirty and fun summer read.
Previously published as 4 part serial, now released as full length novel, tells the book the story of four persons.
First is Ruby.
Ruby is a young woman who works at a flower shop. She has not much luck in love, but wants her fairy tale so bad.
On her way to change her karma she meets Curtis.
Curtis is an accountant, a logic realist and totally opposite of Ruby.
Next is Kim, the widowed flower shop owner, a lonely woman who longs for love and commitment.
Aiden the widowed customer has his own secrets and past, family problems he has to deal with.
These four people are make abeautiful picture, are on a journey to hea, a well deserved hea. A great read, complex and very well written, witty and fun. 4,75 stars.

A humorous and slightly romantic story based on Ruby and Curtis who find an engagemt ring and are determined to find its rightful owner.
It has a lovely well written style and I enjoyed the lovely characters as well as the not so nice ones.
I read this in one sitting it was so good.
Give it a read. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

After reading part one, a little while ago, I was absolutely delighted to be given the chance to read the full book! And it doesn’t disappoint…… I absolutely loved this book, with its madcap, laugh out loud characters and the wonderful plot twists. Full of fabulous, well written characters, as well as a couple of villains thrown in for good measure. I was unable to put it down and read it in one sitting. Highly recommended, feel good, laugh out loud book with a few poignant moments as well. I LOVED it 🥰
Will definitely be looking out for Bella’s next book.