Today saw the publication of One Summer Weekend a novella full of innuendo, role play and so much more.

Alicia is a strong woman with a past that’s had a bigger effect on her than she would ever believe or say. It’s not until she meets Jack – the lad hot shot businessman who needs a coach and has women falling at his feet or does he. I loved the interaction between these two although it wasn’t plain sailing although I won’t be delving into any details on that – you will have to read for yourself.

This novella will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the lake distract and beyond. I must admit it took me a lot longer to read than I anticipated but only because I had personal and work distractions.

Having read this novella from Juliet Archer I would love to read more from her. If you’re looking to be whisked away look no further it’s one jam packed Summer Weekend with a breathtaking locatio

This book has just the most gorgeous colour and I loved it from the moment I saw it - it has to be one of the most eye-catching, attractive covers out there at the moment - and I have to say that the story inside is just as lovely!

This really is a nice book to read, it flows really well and I loved the characters - it is the perfect summer read - Jack and Alicia are great characters and I warmed to them from the outset - 4 stars from me for this one - I really enjoyed it!

I began reading this book at the start of the Queens Birthday long weekend, for those of you not in the Commonwealth that basically means we get an extra day off work just the Queen of England wants to celebrate her birthday. Which for us Aussies just means we get another day to drink and relax. This year I took the opportunity to have a mini-getaway with my partner since we won’t be having a mid year holiday together. And because we are a super cute and romantic couple our mini-getaway was basically spent walking around Daylesford in rural Victoria before I spent a good 2 hours or so soaking in the spa bath having my glass of wine topped up regularly while he watched UFC on the tv.

Now I’m gona guess that some of you are probably thinking “but what has that got to do with this book?”. For me, everything. I believe that the time and place you read a book can really impact how you enjoy it. Since this book is shorter (or at least it felt shorter) than most of the books I’ve been reading recently I felt a great sense of achievement when I realised I’d read like half the book while relaxing in the bath. And since Daylesford is a really quiet, romantic type of town (after you get through the stupid tourists that seem to forget that there are other people around) made especially so by our secluded villa with a fireplace (since it’s winter here the fireplace was very much appreciated!).

So already being in a romantic frame of mind I felt I was really able to enjoy this short, sweet story between a modern day woman fighting against the “old school” mens club mentality by building her career off of coaching them how to manage their companies better. And then we also have a guy that initially comes across as your typical young playboy who’s had too much money and power all his life and is enjoying it much to much to ever contemplate changing or listening to an attractive woman.

What I thought was a great twist was that it seemed that for once the man was more in tune with his true feelings than the woman was. And that the woman was all wrapped up in her own past, insecurities and negativity to be able to move forward. Even when the object of her past that is holding her back reappears and tries to make things worse she manages to wake up an triumph against it. Which of course, since this is a romance novel means the happy couple end up together.

How they got together in the end irked me a little bit because they end up deciding that they will just up and take time off work without any notice or planning. I don’t know if this annoys be because of my OCD need to plan those types of things out. Or whether it’s because I feel like I’m often left having to pick up the pieces when someone decides 2 weeks to a month out from their holiday that they are going to go away regardless of what is happening at the time. But I guess it’s just a novel so I shouldn’t read to much into that aspect of it.

The rest of it was beautifully written, simple and allowed me to really just relax and enjoy my romantic weekend away which wouldn’t have been complete if I didn’t have a good book.

I sat down to read this when I just felt like escaping into a book and I wasn't disappointed. It is a fairly short read but within that, I found the characters to be well developed with their own back stories to tell. Initial first impressions come under the microscope as Alicia starts her job of 'deep diving' into Jack's personality and it is pretty clear from the start that her first impression is probably going to be tested.

I loved the setting in the Lake District- it was just right for a summer read and even the cover kept it light and bright. The novella is written from Alicia's point of view but you realise that there are some skeletons in Alicia's past which are influencing her feelings toward Jack. I found Jack a more sympathetic character than Alicia even though we only really see him through her eyes. As an escapist romantic read, the story flowed well and kept me engaged to the end.

In short: A brief novella full of sunshine and romance.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

Alicia is off men after the trouble they have given her in the past and so when she meets Jack and his reputation as a playboy precedes him she is determined to keep her distance especially as he is a client........ but can she fight the chemistry especially in a romantic setting like the Lake District!

A good light read short story, at first I didn't really like the main characters but as you got to know their back stories they started to grow on me and am look forward to reading the follow up from Jack's point of view

I give this book 3.5 stars.

Take two type A personalities, lots of emotional baggage and one weekend in the breathtakingly beautiful Lake District and you’ve got quite a tale to tell. Juliet had me feeling like I was at a tennis match with this one. One moment I was on Jack’s side, the next I was Alicia’s, then I was back where I started and then shunted back again. Quite fun for a reader.

Julia’s character is introduced as tough, hard, no nonsense and yet vulnerable. To protect herself from repeating past hurts, she shows only a tough exterior to the world, to the reader even! I spent quite a chunk of this book thinking how unlikeable this lady is. It is through Jack’s constant prodding at her armour and the gradually revealed details of her history with Troy that Julia’s softer side is revealed. At that point she becomes a much more sympathetic character.

Jack is just as stubborn as the leading lady and his antics are, at times, equally infuriating. He’s cast as a playboy and, with a bombshell ex-girlfriend, seems perfect for the part. However, there’s a lot more to Jack and only by digging into his past, will Alicia discover who he is now.

The story is told from Alicia’s point of view only so that does limit how much of Jack we get to see. However, it would have been nice to get more info on his past and his coping mechanisms.

Favourite Parts:
The sparring between Jack and Alicia while they stayed with Bill and Midge. Given the corner they’d backed themselves into, it was hilarious to read how they communicated with each other and tried to keep up appearances.
The vivid and inviting Lake District descriptions sent me on a hunt for pictures.

Least Favourite Parts:
I feel the ending was rushed and I would have liked to get more closure on Jack’s personal issues.
Lots of ‘business speak’ about executive coaching. Maybe less detail on that and more on Jack!
Overall this is a quick and easy read. Although Jack and Alicia both behave irrationally at times, the chemistry between them is well-written and entirely enjoyable. Definitely worth a read.

One Summer Weekend is a charming novella that is ideal for a summers afternoon, the perfect length if you’re busy or like to read it all in one go. At first I wasn’t sure on the characters, I struggled to connect with Alicia and I didn’t like Jack however I believe this may have been what Juliet was hoping for. As I moved through the novella and understood more about the characters they started to grow on me.

Alicia is a business coach, I have never heard of one and didn’t realise this was a career path. She takes Jack on as a client however she’s eager to pass him on to another of her colleagues. They go on a ‘business’ trip to the Lake District which could mean trouble…

Alicia as I mentioned before I didn’t know how to take her in the first few chapters. I thought she was cold however once I got to know her more she started to become a better character. Jack is a ladies man, he seemed like he thought he was the best thing ever however diving deeper into his character he has his insecurities like the rest of us.

I loved Juliet’s writing, she whisked me away to the Lake District with some lovely descriptions of the lakes and the hills. There were some funny moments during the trip that had me chuckling to myself.

One Summer Weekend is sweet, romantic and heart-warming- all that you need for a read outside or by the pool. I will be looking out for more books written by Juliet in the future!

5☆ A Gorgeous Witty Romance

When Alicia meets Jack Smith at a business meeting to become his executive coach the sexual chemistry just oozes off the pages. No matter how hard Alicia tries Jack manages to get under her skin.

Alicia is strong willed and determined not to let Jack risk a business deal. She knows she can keep him at arms length. Even if Jack has other ideas!

I wasn't too worried about the whole job titles, lol in fact I didn't even know executive coaches existed. For me it was the chemistry and wit that mattered.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this charming romantic short read.
I loved the chase of Jack as he pursued Alicia and watching her attempt to keep things professional. The banter between them was sarcastic and witty and at points made me giggle.

The cover for One Summer Weekend is gorgeous and the title is perfect for the story.
I just wish it was longer as I would of loved more. I would of loved to see more of their budding relationship.
I only hope Juliet will write more as I think they would make a great novel.
I can't wait to read more from Juliet.

If you love short novellas that are romantic, witty, charming, fun, then you will love One Summer Weekend.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

We meet Alicia Marlowe as she meets a new potential client for ‘Coaches for Growth,’ and she is not impressed by what she sees. I was straight in, straight away as we also met Jack Smith, whose reputation as single handedly turning around a company that was in severe difficulty preceded him. I knew I liked Jack straight off the bat, and enjoyed how they interacted with each other, even though Alicia did at times come across as being slightly over dramatic, jumping to every cliche conclusion about him not being serious, and being a womanizer. I enjoyed their time in the office, but it was after the twenty percent mark, where Jack took Alicia to the beautiful Lake District, that things really kicked off for me as they pretended to be a couple for the lovely Bill and Midge. I enjoyed the scenery and settings, although for once I wished I could have gotten even more of a feel for both, given the beauty of this cover (isn’t it gorgeous?)and the location.

The romance in this book is impeccible, turning a couple who I wasn’t sure of the chemistry of, into a partnership that I willed to work. With both struggling from past hurts, we got some drama that I really enjoyed. I flew through this book in one lovely Summer’s afternoon and it was perfect for this. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources for the book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

This book is a short and sweet summertime read about misconceptions, hang ups and reluctant attraction. Alicia has a troubled romantic past and has no intention of getting involved with a man again, especially a client, and especially one with as bad a reputation as Jack Smith. But you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the gossip columns.

This story is told from Alicia’s perspective (I believe there is a sequel coming which is Jack’s take on the story) so is entirely coloured by her world view and life experiences and, boy, is she quick to jump to conclusions! In fact, she’s made up her mind about Jack before she even meets him and doesn’t really give him a chance. She came across to me as a bit pompous and judgmental to begin with, but the reasons for that become a little more obvious as the story unfolds.

Jack was easy to like and he made me wish Alicia would give him the benefit of the doubt, which was the point of the story. It does not delve too deeply into his history and I feel there is more to Jack than we discover in this book, so I’m looking forward to the sequel.

The setting of the story – mainly in the beautiful Lake District – was wonderful, the author did a great job bringing its splendour to life and I was charmed by the whole section involving Bill and Midge in their holiday home (the book cover perfectly encapsulated how I imagined their cottage to look in my mind(. I was less happy about how dire she made the location of Jack’s factory sound; it was a bit of a stereotype of a ‘it’s grim up North’ industrial town that, as a Northern girl, I didn’t entirely appreciate but it is a minor niggle and I’m guessing she did it to contrast with the beauty of the Lakes but it could have done with being reined in a tiny bit!

Despite being very short, Juliet packed a lot in to the book and made a good job of it not being too obvious what was going to happen. One twist I thought was coming didn’t and then the book took a completely unexpected turn, so it kept me on my toes which is refreshing in a book of this nature. On the down side, given how much Alicia banged on about professionalism, I was surprised and a bit unconvinced about how quickly she herself abandoned these principles but, this is a summer romance not a gritty real-life memoir so I decided to go with it and enjoy it for what it is.

This book is a short and easy read with a beautiful setting and likeable characters and enough action to keep you interested for the couple of hours it will take you to read it. If you are looking for something undemanding to take to your lounger on a lazy, summer afternoon, this book will be perfect and I’m looking forward to the sequel.

One Summer Weekend’s blurb says Alicia Marlowe’s life as an executive coach is well under control.

Only not so much.

I’d say her job was more a well-placed mask to hide the three-year-old emotional scars never far from her thoughts and her main motivation to keep people at arm’s length… especially men.

Enter Jack Smith, a complete opposite of the stodgy, middle-aged male execs she’s used to coaching.

Alicia did her homework. She researched Jack’s immediate background to get some insight into whom she’s dealing with. Finding his player persona played out in the media, Alicia decides she’ll need to set some ground rules and keep the contract completely professional so Mr. Smith knows there’s no chance of things becoming personal between them.

Besides, Jack’s ‘reputation’ reminds Alicia of him and there’s no way she’s ever going down that road again.

Whatever, Alicia.

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jack from the start. Swayed by media accounts, Alicia prejudged him and found him lacking…. and loathsome. But she gets taken down a peg or two. Her boss, Stuart, nailed it when he accused her of “gunning for this Smith guy before you’d even met him.”

His words give her pause and add to her jumbled thoughts when she finds herself too close to Jack for her own good… and for an entire weekend.

Alicia allows her guard to slip as she finds out Jack isn’t whom she believed him to be. He actually has a past more heartbreaking than Alicia’s and she realizes this. However, an appearance by him—Troy Randall Travers (how pretentious) mucks things up royally. Alicia attempts to exorcise her three-year-old demons while verbal sparring with Troy during a business conference, not realizing Jack has walked away.

Only Alicia can fix this, but she has to decide IF she wants to and how to go about it.

While I wanted to choke the life out of Alicia Marlowe during her first meeting with Jack and later after she overheard the conversation with Nick because… RUDENESS isn’t professional, it’s personal; I was cheering for her when, at last, she put her past behind her and took the initiative to reach out to Jack.

Special props to Bill and Midge—Midge is simply too adorable!

An enjoyable, quick romantic comedy with relatable characters, One Summer Weekend is an ideal beach read.

This quick read is a clean romance. Alicia is hired as an executive coach to help Jack become better at business, or rather at how he deals with business communications. She has been successful in the past with clients who were typically older, and less sexually appealing. All she knows about Jack is his reputation as a ladies man. So she develops opinions ahead of time.
Having had a past bad experience with a player, Alicia's personal armour is in place.

Jack doesn't know why this beautiful woman is so difficult, but he does love a challenge.
When she suggests they take the coaching away from the workplace, and Jack has a situation that needs handling, he takes advantage of the opportunity.
I think the author did miss an opportunity here. It would have made for entertaining reading if Jack's former love had shown up while he and Alicia were away for the weekend. I also would have loved to see how Midge would deal with Karina. They could even have given her some help she badly needs, but that is another book.

The other area where I felt this story glossed over something needing more investigation was dealing with Jack's motivation and his father's death. Even if that is spelled out further in Jack's story, and this book is Alicia's story, I would have liked it better explained here, rather than just in passing.

As I just said, this is Alicia's story. Not only about dealing with a sexy client but dealing with her own past wounds. The book is a nice, romantic read but perhaps too gentle. The only real tension comes when Alicia has to physically confront her past at a conference. All the other conflicts are only mildly irritating, not really tension inducing.

If you are looking for a quick, clean read with some emotional healing, you will enjoy this book.
The author has a talent with phrasing. " ...I'd felt like this - a butterfly on the point of a pin..."
I especially enjoyed her analysis reports.

I appreciated this brief cleansing of my reading palate between grittier reads.

This was the first Juliet Archer's book I have ever read and I quite enjoyed it.

The book starts with the first meeting between executive coach Alicia Marlowe and Jack Smith, her new client. Alicia is completely dedicated to her job and from the very beginning is well aware that this job is going to be a hard one. And I must say that I don't know much about the world of a executive coach, but I found the concept of the it all quite intriguing.

But things are not mainly about the coaching, it's also about the chemistry between Jack and Alicia. However, Alicia and Jack’s interactions and relationship's development was fun to read. I loved seeing Alicia's and Jack's development as the relationship began to grow, it made the story a lot relatable and real. And when we get to the weekend... That was amazing and I just got pulled in more.

The descriptions and the way the author writes just made everything much more visual and it made it possible for me to enjoy the book and see all the colors and images in my mind. That, plus the fast pace in the storyline played with my emotions and I liked getting to know the characters and learning about their pasts and thought as I read the book.

Since I'm from Portugal and I haven't traveled that much, I love reading about other places and reading is the best because it makes it possible for me to just "travel" (in my mind) and have fun in an adventure. When the place I'm reading about truly exists, I always do a Google search and try to learn more about that place, and that's what I did with this book. I had never heard of this Lake District before, so I was curious because it sound so lovely, and after my search, I'm even curious.

It was beautiful, more than I had imagine. I can see why Juliet would use that setting for her book, it really helps creating the perfect atmosphere that the storyline needs to get things moving.

"One Summer Weekend" is a wonderful story that truly get us to this weekend moment and is a fantastic read for Summer time. Actually, I recommend it for a relaxing day on the beach, or at home, wherever you like to read.

[Thank you Juliet and Rachel for this book and the opportunity to read and give my honest review of this book as part of the blog tour. ]

Juliet Archer makes a welcome return to contemporary romance and women’s fiction with her enchanting novella, One Summer Weekend, a gorgeous and uplifting tale, inspired by Elizabeth Gaskell’s much-loved classic North and South that readers are simply going to lap up!

Executive coach Alicia Marlowe is completed dedicated to her job. Relationships and affairs of the heart are strictly off the agenda for her and she focuses all of her time and energy into her job and into getting the best results she possibly can. Everything seems to be going smoothly for her. Sure, her personal life is nonexistent, but her career is on the rise and her star is firmly in the ascendant – until she meets her latest client: northern powerhouse Jack Smith. Forever being photographed coming out of nightclubs with a different leggy blonde on his arm every night, Jack is a tabloid regular and a paparazzi favourite, whose business dealings are as notorious as his latest conquests. Alicia is well aware that this job is going to be anything but easy and sparks begin to fly the very first moment they clap eyes on each other. Alicia finds Jack ‘Jack the Lad’ Smith insufferable and arrogant, but refusing this job is simply not an option, so she must grin and bear it and hope that she manages to get to the end of this job without strangling him! However, Alicia and Jack’s initial dislike of one another quickly gives way to a sizzling attraction which they simply cannot deny…

Jack Smith is well aware of his reputation as a ladies’ man and although Alicia Marlowe is far removed from the women he usually dates, there is something about her which intrigues him and which awakens long-buried feelings deep within him which he hasn’t felt for a very long time. Keeping their relationship strictly professional and focusing on the expert coaching Alicia can give him should be Jack’s focus. But although his head is telling him to keep things business-like, his heart is telling him something else entirely. When Jack has a business trip to the Lake District, taking Alicia with him – purely for professional reasons, of course! – seems like the most logical of solutions. However, little do they realises that their lives are about to be turned upside down!

After the acrimonious break-up of her last relationship, Alicia had vowed to keep emotions at bay and her heart under lock and key. Yet, Jack has made her feel things she never imagined she would feel again. Is she ready to take a leap of faith and put her heart on the line? Or is she still being held hostage by old ghosts?

Will one summer weekend in the Lake District prove to Alicia and Jack that happiness can be within reach, but if only they have the courage to fight for what they want: each other.

It might be seven years since Juliet Archer’s last book (the fabulous Persuade Me), but she has certainly lost none of the charm, spark and talent that make her an outstanding writer of contemporary women’s fiction. One Summer Weekend is a wonderful story readers will simply not be able to put down as it sparkles with fantastic characters, poignant romance, compelling emotion and nail-biting drama.

Alicia was a wonderful character and although she initially came across as being rather cold, her journey is one that will have readers cheering her on to get the happiness she deserves. I also really loved Jake and thought that he was more than a match for his antecedent, the dashing John Thornton.

Uplifting, feel-good and impossible to put down, One Summer Weekend is Juliet Archer’s triumphant return to contemporary women’s fiction. Fast-paced, emotional and wonderfully romantic, it is a compulsively readable tale that should not be missed!

4 Summertime Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I’m such a sucker for a book with a summery cover/title... wherever the lake district is located it sounds quite beautiful, need to add it to my list of many places I want to visit when I’m in the UK.... this was a sweet short story that put a smile on my face....

Alicia and Jack Meat when Alicia becomes his executive coach... Alicia wants to maintain a professional relationship, but Jack is persistent.... after a weekend in the lake district love blooms... but then Alicia’s ex shows up and things go a little sideways... will Alicia and Jack get their HEA?

This was a short book and because of the length I didn’t get as much character development as I would have liked... wouldn’t mind getting a follow up, I would love to get to know Jack and Chloe better along with some of the secondary characters in this novella...

Recommend to fans of summertime and love💕

*** many thanks to the publisher, the author, and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***

In this novella, we meet Alicia (again what a fab name), an executive coach, who has been tasked with a new client. In walks, Jack Smith, who is arrogant and if you listen to the tabloids is a player with the ladies. Alicia has already written him off and is strictly business with him, Jack likes to flirt and joke around - Alicia does not find this acceptable.

In order for Alicia to help Jack, for some reason, she has to go away for the weekend with him on a business trip. The client, are also good friends of Jack, and Alicia has to pretend for the weekend in the Lake District that she is his girlfriend, what could go wrong?

Being a novella, you know things are going to progress and quick. We learn quite a bit of their backstory, but there were still some gaps that I would have loved to been answered. Due to Alicia 'researching' Jack, she had made a judgement on him before she had met him and wrote him off as a womaniser. I mean I get we would all do that, but she shut him down completely at the start, then when they got to the weekend away after a couple of wines she kissed him. I thought it was progressed probably a bit too quickly in terms of their feelings for each other with the little time they spent together. The judgement she had made on Jack was based on "him", the mysterious man from her past, who left her completely heartbroken and turned her into the Ice Queen, cue the drama for later on in the book. I did love Jack, albeit the arrogance, but he had a huge heart and knew his flaws.

I did LOVE the walk they went on in the Lake District, as the descriptions of the views sounded breathtaking. For someone who has never been there, but always longed to, I felt like I could picture it perfectly.

This is a perfect read, sitting in the garden in the early evening with a nice glass of wine (well we have to keep up with Alicia and Jack!)

After really enjoying The Importance of Being Emma and Persuade Me both of which I read way before I started blogging I jumped at the chance to read One Summer Weekend. In this story we get to meet Alicia who is an executive coach hired by Jack. It was great to see how in control Alicia was until of course she meets her new client. I really enjoyed their interactions especially with some sparks flying whenever they were together. I would say that it took me a little bit longer to like and get a feel for Alicia's character. This is pretty much all down to her past which definitely explains how she acts especially around Jack. However Juliet Archer manages to really bring her personality out as the story progresses and when you add Jack to the mix I couldn't help but hope for a happy ever after. Jack was the highlight for me mainly because he was playful and I loved how he gently teased Alicia.

I have to mention the setting and the gorgeous descriptions of their weekend in the Lake District. I have always wanted to visit and this story has made me want to go even more. The length of this book is pretty short so perfect for relaxing with especially with the lovely weather we are having.

If you are looking for a light hearted and warm story then look no further. One Summer Weekend has romance, fun and a very beautiful setting!

With thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my copy.

Firstly I just have to mention the cover for One Summer Weekend. It’s one of the prettiest I have seen this year and the idyllic summer scene gives the novella a very inviting snapshot of what is to come.

I think its fair to say that when Alicia met her new client Jack Smith they got off to a frosty start. Jack’s reputation put Alicia on edge straight away, she would be working as Jack’s executive coach but that didn’t mean she had to like him. The fact that Jack was drop dead gorgeous with an engaging smile and slight Northern accent just made Alicia put the barriers up even more. I didn’t know if Alicia was being unfair to Jack because he reminded her of her ex-boyfriend or if his demeanor really did make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Of course, the iciness slowly melts when Alicia accompanies Jack on a business trip to the Lake District and for me this was when the book became interesting . The author describes the stunning scenery to perfection and the location was a real hit for me. The characters become more mellow as the book progresses and I began to like them both much more.

A well-written story perfect to read in the sunshine under a big tree with a picnic and a drop of Prosecco!

Thank you to Rachel, the author, and NetGalley for my copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly.

I am very torn with this one! I don't know whether to listen to my heart or my head, especially when both have such conflicting opinions of the storyline and the characters involved.

If I were to listen to my head, I would say that I found the whole situation with Jack quite bitter due to the way he acted. There are a lot of reports in the media at the moment regarding people like Jack, and I feel that with Alicia adapting herself to his personality instead of listening to her own gut instinct, it made the #MeToo movement appear less poignant. Jack is an extremely egotistical and arrogant man at first. He believes that he can lure a woman into his 'web' with his cocksure attitude and roaming eyes, actions that made me cringe more than once. I can appreciate the link between him and Alicia's ex and what the author was trying to convey there, but there was a large portion of the storyline where Jack turned my stomach. I would have loved it if Alicia did listen to her gut instinct instead of pandering to his actions, making him believe that they're okay. They're not.

If I were to listen to my heart, I would say the above BUT, I would also say that as the storyline progressed, Jack's personality completely changed and he came out of his shell in a way that perceived him as a brand new character. Looking back now, I can't see how the  Jack we got to know first, is the same man I ended up adoring by the end of the book. The same goes with Alicia. As for the storyline itself, I did thoroughly enjoy the overall premise and the additional romantic moments, as it made me believe the whole theory of kissing frogs to find your prince. I thought the second half of the novel was a heck of a lot more substantial than the first part, and I truly believe that Juliet Archer came into her own, making her writing shine like a beacon as the storyline progressed. It was as though the author finally believed in her characters and what the journey that they were on, and that definitely came across in her writing.

So, you can see why I am torn. Jack's character at the beginning, put a huge dampener on my feelings for the book, yet I did end up really enjoying his character and everything the storyline stood for, by the time I had reached the end of the book. I am just so glad that I was able to see the author's writing shine as that allowed me to finish the book on a very good note.

We meet Alicia in her role as an executive coach and I found her to be particularly frosty and clinical in her approach to life and the problems it has a tendency to throw at every one of us at some time in our lives. It's as though she has read the textbook and lives by the rules set down in it - grey areas just do not exist in her world. Then as the pages turned, I gradually started to see another side to her and began to wonder just what had made her build the barriers which she so clearly lives behind.

Her client Jack Smith appears to be outgoing, confident - literally "Jack the lad" amongst the ladies with his dashing good looks and fly-by-night attitude. Something about him obviously hits a nerve with Alicia so she redoubles her efforts to keep him at arms length with icy responses to any of his questions and the metaphoric walls she has built begin to feel more like physical ones the more the two characters interact.

As part of Jack's coaching experience Alicia asks to observe him in a business setting with a client which results in Alicia finding herself travelling to the Lake District and feeling well and truly out of her depth. Jack hasn't been entirely honest with Alicia or his clients and the weekend starts with a very awkward scenario which Alicia really isn't comfortable with. I loved the characters Bill and Midge, Jack's clients, and really enjoyed how their role in the book panned out. The descriptions of the scenery they live amidst are beautiful - so much so that I have added a trip to the area to my list of places I want to explore one day.

During their stay in the countryside Jack and Alicia gradually learn more about each other and slowly but surely start to knock down each other's defences. It's difficult to go into too much detail without spoiling the story for anyone yet to read the book but their journey is not without its hurdles and there is more than one occasion where I wondered whether the pair would actually manage to complete the coaching exercise let alone reach a point where they would understand what made the other tick.

Although the two main characters are prominent in this story I love the supporting cast of characters who pepper the book throughout. From ex partners to business associates there are some nicely crafted personalities that the author has written in; some only make fleeting appearances but influence the overall story quite significantly, which I feel made the book work very well.

For a short story there is still a satisfying depth to this book, so if you fancy something fairly quick to read but which is still fulfilling then this is definitely one worth picking up.

This review will be posted as part of the blog tour which is happening in July