I enjoyed part one of this book, so was thrilled to be able to read the whole of the novel.
You know you're in for a good read when within a few pages, you know exactly what you want to happen, and you speed through the chapters waiting for it, going on a fantastic journey to get to that expected destination.
It was like that for me, with The Promise Of Summer.
An easy, light-hearted read with three interesting characters; Ruby, with her obsession with having a baby, Kim and her secret, and Curtis...
I was fascinated by Curtis, the whole way through! The pointers from the very beginning of the story indicated a person on the autistic spectrum, and it was just a joy to see him with his own happily ever after, to be honest.
And don't let me forget to mention Boomer, or Boomerang, the rescue dog, who ends up stealing plenty of hearts!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely brilliant,I thoroughly recommend this book. Bella Osborne manages to make you laugh and cry with her characters. Ruby and Curtis are the dominant characters but there is also Kim and Adrian. The relationship that Ruby is building with Curtis had me laughing out loud and I really got pulled into the story. Although they are the main story there is also Kim, Ruby’s boss and friend, and her tale of relationship woes with her ex-husband Vince and her dog Boomerang and how she finds her love for Adrian. Bella shows how friendship can develop into something more. If you want a summer read that you can escape into and laugh then this is the one. Bella Osborne delivers another great novel. Thank you for letting me read and review this one.

Such a gorgeous story with a great plot characters and setting I just wanted more! Bella Osbourne has become one of my must read authors and I highly recommend you give this one a go!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Bokks for the eARC to read and review.

This gorgeous story features Kim, the owner of a florist and her employee and friend Ruby. Kim has lost her husband Vince, Ruby recently lost her mother… both are lonely and haven’t had much luck in the love department.

Ruby has a plan that involves a day trip from Sheffield to London. On the train, she meets Lewis who is planning to propose on the London Eye at 4pm. Unfortunately when he borrows Ruby’s phone, he leaves the engagement ring behind.

This sparks off a summer of Ruby and Curtis, another passenger, trying every way to return the ring but in the process finding themselves growing closer and closer.

This perfectly formed story of the very literal Curtis’ friendship with the ray-of-sunshine Ruby filled me with happiness. It’s such a sweet story of lonely souls meeting kindred spirits, in such charming ways. I loved the easy rapport they have with each other.

Definitely one that was hard to put down for me! 5/5 ❤️ This is the second book of Bella Osborne’s I have read in a handful of days, both had me enthralled 🥰

A fun, heart warming romance, full of character, spirit, and happy times.
Bella is brilliant at incorporating humour alongside touching moments of emotion, creating intricate stories with complicated relationships and special characters.
I love the characters in The Promise of Summer -Ruby has given up on finding love, she’s met man after man and they have all let her down. She knows what she does want and is intent on making it happen. She is bright, sassy and full of life, so meeting an awkward Curtis, who is intelligent an super successful in his chosen field, on a train to London sets things off on a very different path.
I really enjoyed how these characters complimented each other and how they brought out the best parts of each other. I loved how their friendship blossomed.
Bella’s writing drew me in and kept me thoroughly engrossed from start to end. It is everything you want from a feel good, romantic fiction. Perfect for all reading occasions, I highly recommend you grab yourself a copy and enjoy!

This was a really good read. Easy story to follow, charming setting and great characters. Really enjoyed it.

The Promise of Summer cozy and heart-warming romance that revolved around Ruby and Curtis trying to return the engagement ring they found on train and slowly falling in love. It also revolved around Ruby’s employer and florist, Kim, and her love story. The story was about dream, hope, heartbreak, love, friendship, loss, and betrayal.

Writing was fun, refreshing, relaxing and steady paced. It was written in third person narrative mainly from Ruby’s perspective and there was also intermittent Kim’s POV. Setting of Sheffield and London was great. This was originally released in four parts that I later found out but I loved this combined version. Author is new to me and now after reading this I wish to get more books by author.

Plot was interesting. What surprised me was Kim’s story. From synopsis I was expecting only Ruby’s story but it was also Kim’s story even though Ruby was main character.

It started with Ruby visiting London for her appointment to have baby. Looking at her past disastrous relationships and her biological clock ticking, she felt finding donor was only way she could be a mother. She met a stranger on train who was going to propose his girlfriend making her think love is not all lost but the man dropped engagement ring in hurry and she wanted to save his day returning the ring on time but she didn’t expect another passenger- businessman, very unromantic and emotionless, Curtis- to step in, insisting he keep it safe with him and tag along with Ruby and help her in returning the ring. It was interesting to see how this unlikely pair going to work together and find owner of the ring.

At the same time, Kim who ran the flower shop and employer of Ruby find herself attracted to Adrian, her regular customer. But she didn’t expect her past coming back knocking at her door and making her life and potential relationship complicated. It was interesting to see if she, at last, would find love and happiness or would end up lonely as she was.

All characters were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed story of all secondary characters, even the dog Boomerang whom Kim adopted had his little story. He was such an adorable and friendly dog with full of energy and I enjoyed his and Kim’s training sessions.

Kim was amazing employer. She was lovely and kind lady in her mid-forties but also spirited when she had to handle customers looking for free things. I didn’t like she lied about her husband but when she shared it to Adrian it made sense. I felt for her and rooted for her ever since. I wished she could tell Ruby about it sooner but just as I guessed she did it too late. When her past returned, it wasn’t a surprise but I was annoyed Kim was falling into lie so easily. I could see what that person was trying to do and I so want to shake Kim and make her see through it but again, she realised it too late.

Adrian was lovely person. He had somewhat similar story as Kim but very different at the same time. Both lied about what they suffered but that helped them form a friendship that strengthened as the story progressed. I liked him for helping Kim with getting Boomerang and realising his mistake at the end.

Curtis was most interesting character. He was unlike any man I read in romance. He was smart, intelligent, handsome, and successful, organised and spreadsheet obsessed, and so very innocent. He was the guy who never looked for relationship or sex. He didn’t even understand innuendo, code words, or sarcasm! He was so clueless about love and feelings. He sure sounded like robot who talked straight without any hidden meanings, said the truth, and lived straightforward life with no fun. I enjoyed seeing his transformation, how he came out of his suit and tie, boring monotonous life and started to enjoy time with Ruby, laughed a lot, and understood what love and feeling was, what it was to live spontaneous life. It was best part of the book.

Ruby was lively, cheerful, always smiling person even though inside she was still struggling with loss of her mother and her desperate need to be a mother. She was lonely and naïve girl with bad luck in men but was romantic and hopeful at heart. I shook my head often at her romantic nature, how easily she believed men who bought flowers or those she saw on train with girlfriends. I rooted for her from the beginning. She made the story all bright and shinning. I wish I could have her gift of talking and winning anyone with her verbal diarrhoea. I liked her even more for helping Curtis even when she realised, she had feelings for him.

Friendship was amazing this story. Ruby and Kim’s friendship was lovely to read. I loved how they both supported each other even when there was a slight miff because of Kim’s secret. It was just great both Kim and Ruby were friends with Curtis and Adrian at first and that too for most part of the book.

Kim’s flower shop was great setting. It was entertaining to read all kind of customers Kim and Ruby got and how they handled them. I enjoyed Ruby and Curtis’ trip to London, places they visited, their train journeys, and their time at Cleethorpes. Conversations between characters were smooth and delightful.

Even though this was romance, there was fair amount of plot and characters depth. It was slow developing. Author took very good time in building their friendship. Both Kim and Ruby fell in love only in second half of the book. It was no fairy tale romance as ruby expected and yet it was lovely. And I couldn’t be sure if characters would get their happy ending or not until the end.

Climax was dramatic and emotional. I knew what was going to happen and yet I felt bad for both Kim and Ruby. It was a relief bad people were finally out of their life and they could look forward and yet there was no hope for romance. I almost thought this would end that way but it didn’t. I was happy they finally could have their happily-ever-after.

Overall, The Promise of Summer was uplifting, delightful, entertaining and lovely romance with amazing characters and plot.

I highly recommend this if you enjoy,
Slow developing romance
will they won’t they trope
Great employer-employee bond
Amazing friendship
Dog adoption and training in story
Cozy plot
Steady pace
Quirky character
Hero different from any romance you have read

I admit it, I was lured by the title, drawn in by the cover, and made promises by the synopsis about what I was in store for. When I first started the book, my interest faded in and out...after all, it wasn't JUST about Ruby and her little adventure with the train passenger's left behind goods; there was a lot more! As I wasn't in the state of mind for a multi lead tale, it took me a bit to sort it all out and find my rhythm.

You see, it's as much Ruby's story as it is Curtis's, and Kim's, and Boomer's, and Adrian's, and the business associates, floral clients, and pretty much EVERYONE you meet throughout the journey. What starts as an awkward meet cute turns into a new job, a chance at meeting her potential HEA, and a whole lot of unexpected adventures. What begins as a frequent buyer of bouquets evolves into revelations, shared emotions, battle ready daughters, and a not-so-ghostly blast from the past. What carries on as an emotional guy laying it all on the line for love reveals itself in time to be quite the opposite of what they initially believed. SO, yeah, if you catch my drift, there are SO MANY GREAT STORIES running around in this one, it's hard to pick just one to love! Although hard pressed, I'd have to say the tale of Ruby and Curtis...and the drama that unfolded for Kim!


In the end, a book that makes a promise and while not keeping it exactly, it expands upon that promise to deliver a tale that spins, and twirls within itself, giving readers something truly lovely to remember.

I enjoyed this well-written book. It was fun, fast-paced and held my interest. This was an entertaining book and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley, too
For my copy of this brilliant book,
This is my honest review,
Please take a look!

Ruby has dreams of Prince Charming but all men she meets
Turn out to be losers, liars and cheats.
She’s had enough and is no longer looking for romance
Believing she’s given love more than enough of a chance.

To London she travels her new dream to pursue
But on the train journey she meets two men who
Change her plans and have her travelling with one
To return a ring to the other who with Ruby’s phone has gone.

Ruby is a florist and works with Kim her boss who
Has her own romance in this story, too.
Curtis is a pedant, super straight laced from the start
But he and Ruby both have a really warm heart.

They live and work in Sheffield, not very far from me
It was great to read of places we often get to see.
Shopping in Meadowhell and in Rother Valley go walking
Both are familiar venues that had my family talking.

Nothing is straightforward, the story has twists and turns
And through it all, everyone learns.
With surprises and shocking revelations, too
Making this a great read for me and for you.

A delightful, easy read this story is full of fun
Just right for reading, relaxing in the sun.
I highly recommend it and hope it’s true to say
It’s guaranteed to brighten your day!

Brilliant book to read at any time of the year.
Lovely Ruby is an orphan trying to make her way in the works. She works as a florist with her boss Kim.
Ruby wants a family and so decides relationships are a waste of time, she is an idiot magnet.
She decides on a sperm donor so travels to London on the train, Whilst on the train she meets Curtis and promptly they annoy each other along the way.
Life gets on the way and they have to learn to help each other.
Curtis is cold and detached but as Ruby travels through the book she learns to understand him.

This book is 5* an excellent read. This arc was provided free of charge in exchange for a honest review by netgalley.

Oh my gosh! I laughed at so many parts in this book. It was so fun to read. Just when I thought the story was going to go in this direction, something else happens! It had the right amount of adventure, friendship and romance.

The main character, Ruby is a woman of many talents! She is great at rearranging flowers, has tons of patience dealing with customers and Curtis. Plus her way with words captured my attention. I love how Ruby's life changed when Curtis comes into the picture. I really liked the interaction between them. It was like "serious life" meets "vibrant life". What can I say about Curtis? The character is quite interesting and to me he kind of opens up a bit more but in a turtle pace way. (I keep trying to picture which actor could pull him off.) When Ruby and Curtis are together, they're opposites. Like that song "Opposites Attract", anything is possible!

Now Kim is the other a character in the book who is dealing with her life, ex husband and more. Even her story was fun to read. There were twists and turn with her. She also has a great friendship with Ruby. She comes across a man named Adrian who might be a new flame for her but does it happen? Adrian is a nice man who lost his wife a few years ago and has a daughter. I love the interaction between him and Kim. There's respect and kindness between the two. (For some reason I keep picturing Dermot Mulroney as Adrian. Anyone else think this?) I do have to mention that Kim does take in a dog named Boomerang from the shelter which she ends up nicknaming Boomer. I thought it was perfect for her to take care of a dog.

There are two storylines in this book which worked really well. It was like a movie going on. I loved it! I could keep up with the plot, characters and setting. The pace was perfect for me! I am definitely going to read more from this author!

By the way does Kim and Ruby get their happy ever after or will there be more drama for them in the end? Read this contemporary romance now to find out!

This is another fantastic story from Bella Osborne, she is certainly claiming her place in the romantic comedy royal family. This book is full of laugh out loud scenarios and touching moments. I found that I breezed through it and loved every page.
The story mainly focuses on Ruby, unlucky in love and dreaming of being a parent, and her new friend Curtis. Curtis is socially awkward and seems to enjoy business over pleasure. The unlikely pairing produce some comedy gold as they embark on a scheme to reunite the ring with its true owner.
Of course, there’s another story which sees Ruby’s friend and boss, Kim, trying to adjust to life as a widow. She guards a dark secret which could threaten their friendship. They both work in Kim’s lovely florist shop, enjoying the varied selection of customers each day. Kim finds herself drawn to Adrian, a regular customer who buys his wife a beautiful bouquet each week.
The two storylines, in this gorgeous book, work well together and I had no difficulty keeping up with the changing events. Bella Osborne is excellent at creating characters that a reader can instantly warm to, Ruby and Kim are wonderful examples of this. Of course, the story is not all comedy and high jinks, there are serious moments, and Bella handles these beautifully, creating a depth to her characters and adding to the charm of the book.
The term ‘page-turner’ is often used, but this certainly fits the description, I loved it!

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.

As summer closes in, the unlikely pair make a promise to reunite the ring with its owner. But can they find their own happy ever after along the way?

Quite a few twists and turns to this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of those books you just wanted to read more of. Lovely read.

I’ve had this as a physical book and an audiobook. I flew through the book, it’s an absolute pleasure to read. Wonderful characters and an engaging story.

I have read quite a few of Bella’s books now and I am really becoming quite the fan. The Promise of Summer easily caught my attention from the very first chapter.

Ruby is our main character but her boat and friend Kim also has a very large part to play in this book and I would say she could be classed as more than a support character.

Ruby is quite sick of dating losers. I really liked Ruby. She has that sort of personality that makes her easy to be around and injects the fun into life.

Kim has really been through it in life and I so wanted things to work out for her. She deserves a bit of love and happiness.

Now I have to talk about Curtis. Oh, what a character he is. He is funny without releasing it sometimes and he has a good heart. He is a little socially awkward but when you get to know him he really comes out of his shell.

I flew through all 416 pages of this book in a very short time. It was very easy to read and very hard to put down. The characters are relatable, the writing is witty and emotional. It was a real treat to read and I can’t wait for more from Bella.

Thank you to Avon for my copy of this book via Netgalley and to Rachel for letting me take part in this tour.

The story of Ruby and Kim, who work together in Kim’s florist shop. What a refreshing change, to have a book based in Sheffield. I took an immediate liking to both of these strong female characters straight away; I loved the honest way that they were portrayed. Ruby is eager to please and desperate to have a baby - by any means. Kim on the other hand still desperately misses her ‘late’Husband - but there is an element of mystery in the letters she has been receiving from ‘him’.

Ruby meets the grumpy Curtis on a train to London, they end up spending the day together and as the day progresses, so Curtis’ grumpiness thaws. Whilst Ruby is in London, Kim makes a shocking, but endearingly romantic discovery about their regular customer, Adrian. The pair of them seem destined to be close.

Ruby on the other hand is desperately showing Curtis how to have fun, while he is ostensibly trying to find her a partner, through the conduit of giving her a part time job. What could possibly go wrong!

Kim is hiding a secret. Together, the pair have a wonderful friendship and love working together. If I had to choose be word to describe Ruby, it would be ‘joyous’. She takes great delight in taking Curtis on cheap/free days out and always lives life to the max. She is the kind of person who would make the ideal best friend. She is completely selfless, for example encouraging Curtis to date other women, when it is obvious to anyone else that her and Curtis are very keen on each other. Saying that however, she really deserves some love in her life. It was my sincere hope that The gorgeous Curtis would provide this love. Kim is equally unlucky in love and it was easy to see how the Husband ‘confusion’ came about. I adored Kim’s relationship with Boomer the rescue dog - and it was heart-warming that she gave an animal with no hope, a new home and future. I did fear for her on the ‘Husband’ front however!

In all I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming tale of friendship, love and overcoming past demons and I would recommend it as your next summer read.

I really loved this book and read it in a day. Ruby’s getting old and makes a life changing decision that needs a trip to London. However from the start of sitting in the wrong seat, upsetting a stuffed shirt business man, to then sitting with a gorgeous guy on his way to propose to the love of his life on the London eye. Ruby’s day and life takes a totally different route. This book is chocker full of laughter, tears, shocks and love. A must read just fabulous. Throughly enjoyable and a top ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you love a little romance then this is the perfect light hearted read for you, I love Kim & Ruby they were wonderful leading ladies as we join them in their hunt for the perfect man.

The florist was a gorgeous setting for this story with a few adventures in London dotted throughout. This is one of those stories where you are mentally pairing people off as you read and assessing why they wouldn't be the perfect match for your character.

Curtis is a complex character who befriends Ruby in the strangest of circumstances, but quickly realises her lovely nature is just the influence he needs when holding meetings and interacting with his colleagues.

This is one of those stories that you want to go on forever as you become increasingly desperate for the characters to find their happily ever after. A highly recommended read

A lovely book which should have been read on a sunlounger by a pool - unfortunately had to make do with my garden! Lovely characters and two love stories being told. You wanted everyone to live happily ever after and you'll have to read it to find out if they did!