Cover Image: Under Her Influence

Under Her Influence

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Member Reviews

Emma Fraser knows theme parks. Her and her brother have been running the Scottish theme park that was started by her great grandmother in the early 1900s. She is overworked, stiff, and unapproachable. Even though her and her brother run the theme park, they answers to the BOD. If only she can get her brother to take on more responsible. Jemma Johnson is a travel blogger who is invited to come to Fraser park by Emma's brother to promote the park. Jemma enjoys her job, but it constantly on the go because she has to be in order to keep her social media numbers high. Emma is skeptical when she first meets Jemma, but has not choice but to play nice.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was cute and easy to read. Even though the main story takes place over a week or so, Radley kept throwing the two mains together so they could get to know each other better. I did feel the week's time together was not enough. I did like both mains and the support cast helped to move the story along. There was some chemistry between the mains but it was not overwhelming. I think this is because Radley mainly write PG/G rated romances. I do wish we could have gotten a PG-13 version of the story. I tend to gravitate too romances that has more sex. Not necessarily sex scenes, but more sex appeal and chemistry. I came into reading this one knowing that was a possibility (based on the previous books I have read from this author). I think that if you really like romances with no sex this book would be for you. If you tend to like romances with more sex appeal just know this romance will not give you that.

3.5 stars

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This is a delightful, happy read - perfect for summer reading! I liked all the characters and really loved the concept of it taking place in a theme park. Be sure to toss this one in your beach bag!

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Jemma Johnson never traveled as a child so when she was choosing a career she wanted to make sure she was able to see the world. Now she works on her own channel and brings her travels to her followers. Thus she’s an influencer, someone who shows others their lives while reporting on the various destinations and the best places to stay. Now she finds herself at the Fraser Resort in Scotland. Now this was a place she’s always wanted to go to, even as a child. Now here she was with her camera turned on all the best places to visit while at the Fraser.
Beth Fraser and her twin brother Cameron were the owners of the park that has been handed down through the generations. Keeping everything running smoothly and at the same time trying to keep building on the resort was a full time job. Most of the work is left to Beth, seeing as Cameron had lost his wife leaving him a widower and raising two children. Beth tries to give as much time as she can to the children’s needs.
Beth likes running a neat ship and when Cameron brings Jemma into the resort to tell her audience about the resort. Beth has never heard of such a thing as a ‘influencer’ so she’s not thrilled with Cameron. And why does Jemma have to be so nice and good looking. For Jemma she finds herself drawn to Beth but it doesn’t look like she'll get to know the sexy owner because Beth doesn’t want to be a part of Jemma’s world. The two children have a different idea. They know who Jemma is and the ‘influence’ she has with her followers.
I have loved Amanda’s work for a while and while this may be a good read it’s missing the humor that you can usually find in her books. I’m hoping she doesn’t keep with just a good read but goes back to writing books and you find yourself laughing out loud. Very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

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Definitely influenced!

Jemma, a successful social media influencer heads out to award winning Fraser Park in Scotland to document her experience and share the wonders with her followers. Meeting Beth Fraser, co-owner of the family inherited theme park, Jemma is taken by her and can’t explain why she needs to get to know Beth better. When the magic of Fraser Park has Jemma spending time with Beth, can she help her save the park when a board of directors threaten Beth’s position in the place she calls home?

There was just so much to love about this story and I already know that my review is not going to do it the justice it deserves. Every time Amanda Radley releases a new book, I know before even reading it she has produced another winning novel and that is why I am such a fan. Amanda has an amazing talent for telling a lovely, relatable, deep, meaningful and important story in a simple way that it becomes an easy and all indulgent read.

So with Under Her Influence it genuinely felt like Amanda had been in my head again, reading my thoughts, and putting them on paper. I love this! It gives me a deep and meaningful connection that is truly unique with all the characters in the book. I adored Beth, and I loved Jemma. They were opposites in so many ways, they had an all-important age-gap (we know how I love those!) and yet they were similar in their own insecurities, hopes, fears. So once again, Amanda has delivered the perfect characters in the perfect story.

I got so emotional, especially when Beth and Jemma were finally forming and deeper connection and began questioning things. As Jemma is an influencer, and in part as a reviewer I could relate to the social media and interaction tasks that come with such a job, I was in awe of Jemma’s enthusiasm and spirit but I must say, Amanda perfectly captured the unglamorous and business side that sits behind being in such a position. It is a lot of work, whatever you do online, and to keep a pretense in any situation is exhausting. I related so much, it got me questioning so much, for which I am grateful.

Honestly, I can’t put into words how excited I was to read this, how magical the story really was, and just how emotional it was too. You really need to read and experience everything for yourself and I know you will fall in love with Beth, Jemma, Beth’s family and Fraser Park itself.
So, I hope Fraser Park is a real place and if not, why not, and I need to go! It was magical, wonderful, and such a lovely story that I just couldn’t put down. The connection was so real that I miss the characters already and can’t wait to read the story again, and again. I say this every time but this is my new favourite Amanda Radley story (until the next!)

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I enjoy every book of this author always. It is kind of the same but really never at all. The place where here stories are beoing told are sometimes really unique!

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I really enjoyed this book. The main characters, Beth and Jemma, couldn't be more opposite. Beth manages her family's theme park. Her brother, Cameron, helps little if at all. So, all the duties fall on her. Add to that a board of directors that are highly critical of her actions. She is very overwhelmed. Jemma comes to the park courtesy of Beth's brother. Jemma has a YouTube following of almost a million. She has a channel that follows her travels to different locales. Cameron believes having someone like this at the park will be very beneficial, however, he failed to mention this visitor to Beth beforehand.
They meet when Beth sees Jemma filming while getting on a ride. Beth tells her that it is prohibited and Jemma says she got permission from the manager. The women do not know who the other one is....yet.
It is a well-written quick read.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a cute story, written in an engaging way. I agree that it was "low-angst" which was a bit of a disappointment, but if you're looking for a cute summer read, this will fit the bill. Not on my list to read again, but it was a pleasant story.

I liked that the story took place in an amusement park, and the characters were likable.

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Anyone who follows Amanda Radley on social media knows that she's smart, witty, and a huge fan of DisneyWorld. Apparently, during the travel hiatus she has become an expert in the world of theme parks and how they operate. I always enjoy learning about professions and other things that I'm not really familiar with, and this book not only taught me the behind-the-scenes inner workings of how theme parks operate, but also what it means to be an influencer. As I'm on the back end of middle age, I can only keep up with Facebook, so learning how people actually earn a living on social media was fascinating for me.

I don't agree with other reviews who categorize this book as "low angst" because I was worried to death for Beth and her 24/7 job running her family's legacy park with virtually no help from her twin brother. I like the age gap perspective but didn't really feel any chemistry from the leads. For me it's a light-hearted sweet romance that's well worth your time.

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𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸.

This book has received many good reviews by people loving it for the low angst, heartwarming story that it is. I've no doubt it is, but I'm not exactly crazy about it because nothing really goes on for a good 70% of the book. And I don’t mean sex. No one expects sex from Radley’s books. But it was such a slow burn that the characters don’t engage in even the mildest intimacy until the end, which is why I found it hard to see the chemistry the characters supposedly have. 

For me, Beth and Jemma feel like an odd couple. Beth is 42 and works extremely hard to keep the theme park / resort that she co-owns going. Jemma is a 20-ish social media influencer who is equally dedicated to her job. At Beth’s twin brother’s invitation, Jemma spends a week or two at Fraser Park, where the two women meet for the first time and spend time together. In that short time, they discover a great deal about themselves and each other. Beth wonders more than once why Jemma would be interested in her and I'm wondering the same thing too. She appears almost too dull for Jemma even though Jemma seems to vehemently feel the need to change her own lifestyle choices. Plus Beth feels older than her 42, honestly, because of her serious personality. And partly because of her ignorance when it comes to social media. Okay, I know this one is a little unfair but even my 70 year old parents are on Facebook and Instagram, so......

Again, I must stress that this is a book that most people would enjoy and have. I'm really an outlier on this one.

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I enjoyed this book very much. It was an easy read, low on the angst with a happy ending and leaving room for a sequel.

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Four and a half stars. My second book by Amanda Radley did not disappoint at all. Her writing is mostly light-hearted, not angsty, even while depicting characters who have real struggles outside of their budding romance.
I really liked Beth, who is reserved, even a little closed-off, without being cold. She actually warms to Jemma pretty quickly, It was interesting to see the busy, down-to-earth, number-crunching, overachiever type whose job is actually fuelled through an artistic/creative passion. (Sorry, was that too many adjectives?) We don't see it a lot in fictional characters. I love that it's clear how much her park means to her, even if she doesn't often sit down and get all sentimental about it. But she is a sentimental person, and she feels deeply. You don't need to look at one specific aspect of her to see that: it just emanates from everything she does.
Jemma was merely okay for me. She wasn't particularly notable for me as her own character, but she made for a perfect love interest. I felt that despite how much of the book is narrated from Jemma's perspective, it was all still focused on Beth, and Jemma didn't really get her chance to shine. Watching her crush on Beth was cute, because it wasn't like an immediate, visceral sexual attraction, but the almost puppy dog kind that always seems more real to me. So she's eager to please, but nothing happens until Beth is the one to initiate, and I think that's enough said about her character. Then she realizes that she's a fraud and gives up her career, which was a little jarring. She could have tried not jumping headfirst into the drastic change, because I thought that if it had been building for years, she would have been more aware of it, or had more denial. I would have liked to see her work through her feelings and find a way to reclaim her passion for her work, but maybe that's unrealistic given what she does.
I liked that the 80% conflict of the story was not about the relationship, because it was still way too new to start tearing them apart. I liked how Jemma suddenly fit perfectly into Fraser Park life, because her job as an influencer put her in a position to help Beth and the park like nobody else could. The ending was super sweet, and even though we have a glimpse of the couple only 3 weeks after they met, a happily-ever-after for them is believable. Why not? They're very compatible, and have resolved problems in other aspects of their lives.
Fabulous. I said this last time, but I am definitely going to go find more Amanda Radley.

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I’m going to be completely honest. This book isn’t my kind of read.

It’s a wholesome feel good romance that I highly recommend for a slow day casual read.

Beth owns Fraser Park and one day her brother hires a social media influencer, Jemma, hoping that it would give the park some more attraction and he does this without telling Beth. So instantly Beth has some reserves and upset about it.

All the characters in this book are likable and it was interesting to see them struggle with their careers and each other but this doesn’t actually happen till 80% of the book. The first 80% is mostly a slow burn insight to the characters.

Definitely not my type of book, it’s slow, drama free, and dare I say it... boring.

Now you may be wondering, why five stars if you think it’s boring?

Because even though this book was a bit too PG and angst free for me, it can totally be something better for someone else. The writing was perfect, the character development was amazing- the satisfaction of Jemma’s character breakdown was painfully beautiful even though I felt like there could’ve been more buildup. Cameron also reminded me a bit of my own twin brother. I feel comfortable saying that this is a good book and I do recommend it even though I lacked excitement.

Though I feel like other existing reviews and critiques on this book are all justifiable and logical I feel like most went into this book expecting a hot angst filled romance. But as I said this book is really PG, honestly if you buy the paperback you can probably give it to a younger audience.

4.5 stars.

As I said before it was a nice feel good casual read and I do recommend it if you’re looking for something short and simple. Maybe if you’ve had a few heart wrenching stories and need a good 100% happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in return for an honest review!

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Amanda Radley writes sweet romances and this is no different. It's a simple read about Beth, a stressed park owner and Jemma a travel vlogger. Jemma comes to Fraser park for an item and, ofcourse, they fall in love.
It's not a complicated story at all, doesn't have a lot of angst, is PG, but it flows along nicely and is a quick read.
For anyone who is in the mood for a fast 2 hour read with not that much impact it's perfect.
The characters are easy to like and they actually communicate and the writing style is pleasant. Not a book that stands out, but an enjoyable read none-the-less.

*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review***

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This is a PG rated white story, be warned. Is that bad? Not necessarily. Because from time to time it's good to meet a story without complications, without drama, without deception. Just discovering how the protagonist Jemma does it here, a world of dream and fun, a bit childish, yes, but so what?

Jemma is not as perfect as her vlog makes her seem. It is not the vlog itself, it is she who wants to appear as the perfect traveler for her followers, she is their influencer after all.

And her counterpoint, Beth, is she the cold and haughty owner of the Scottish recreation and leisure center? Is she really that despicable? A real approach to the stressed woman, with the permission of Beth and thanks to Jemma's great interest, will show the reasons for Beth's attitude.

This may not be enough for some of you, but for me, from time to time, this kind of story leaves me completely and utterly satisfied.

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A sweet and refreshing story. I really liked the Scottish setting, which made a change from the usual USA. The family, with the twins and the niece and nephew were really portrayed well. They all had believable dialogue, which was age appropriate and they felt like a nice family doing their best to manage what life had thrown at them. The writing style flows with a nice pace. It’s perfect to read in a lounging chair on a warm summers day. In other words, the plot is not particularly exciting, but reading this book is a nice way to spend the day.

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Amanda Radley writes what I would call sweet and wholesome, feel-good romance novels that typically feature f/f relationships. Under Her Influence stands up to this precedent. Beth Fraser (aged 42) is a co-owner of the incredibly popular theme park Fraser Park. She runs this with her twin brother, Cameron, who is personable and charming but not a great business partner. In comes Jemma Johnson, a twenty-something social media influencer who runs a very popular travel blog. She is invited to explore Fraser Park by Cameron and share her experiences with her audience.

That's the premise. One thing that I like about Amanda Radley, as other reviewers have mentioned, is that she writes f/f romances without sexual details or an abundance of dark/foul language. Those details can be important for some readers but not all. There was also a nice amount of communication and the relationship issues were believable.

I did have a problem with Jemma not being given a specific age. When Beth was given a specific age, it seems intentional to leave Jemma's out. Age-gap relationships can be fine but the power dynamic can be disrupted. I think it's important to clear that air. Other than that though, it was a sweet book.

**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

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Under Her Influence is a sweet romance that is well written and easy to read. The main characters are beautiful crafted and quite likeable.
I absolutely loved Abigail. I really enjoyed it and will recommend.



Thank you Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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This is my second book by Amanda Radley and there is just something about the writing style and general flow of the story that makes it comfortable, lighthearted, and puts a smile on my face. Even when the story and the main characters are dealing with some stressful and emotional stuff it just makes for reading that puts a smile on your face.

Beth co-owns a theme park/ resort in Scotland and she is struggling, the park is in financial distress and the board is hostile. Her brother, Cameron, isn't pulling his weight and is scatterbrained as they come. I find him annoying and endearing all at once. Cameron invites influencer Jemma to come to Fraser Park and do her thing. Beth is unaware of the young woman coming to their hotel and park and just filming everything. Mostly Beth just doesn't understand it. Cameron's kids are fans of Jemma and when Beth is in the park with her niece they encounter Jemma. This sets things in motion where the characters are attracted to each other but are convinced they aren't right for the other. Their insecurities about themselves and their lives is what makes this a believable story and an endearing romance.

An issue I have is with the age of the mains, Beth is 42 and I wasn't able to find out Jemma's age. I'm estimating her to be mid to late twenties. I don't have a problem with age-gap romance per se, but I do have an issue with it when I don't know the age of both characters involved. I also find that some of the issues Jemma struggles with are very teen-like, I'm not saying her issues aren't legit, but it feels a bit too young. And on the other hand, she acts very maturely in how she is with Beth, it's confusing. Beth is so frazzled and I think in over her head I don't fully understand how she can suddenly find time to do things other than work. I think from the 70% mark onwards those things got a bit annoying for me, but it did still put a smile on my face because it's just sweet.

Something I really appreciate in Radley's book is the absence of sex scenes. I don't mind them in books when they make sense, but I really don't miss them in Radley's books. I think they would even be out of place and very uncomfortable. There are some sweet kisses and comforting touches, it's sweet.
All-in-all it's just sweet and worthy of 3.5 stars.

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My heart is just...filled with love and warmth! Finally, I have found an author who does not rely on sex to make the book interesting!! I'm probably going to go on an Amanda Radley read-a-thon

Okay, I suppose I should compose myself a little but it was all so wholesome!!
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Inhale. Exhale.
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Under Her Influence is the perfect wholesome read after a dark book I had picked up. This is probably amongst those rarest of times where I found all the characters likable and adorable even when they had their own flaws. Those flaws made them more human, in my opinion.

Beth Fraser AKA The Ice Queen was the owner of the park where Jemma Johnson AKA Miss Posititivity/Influencer was hosted at. Beth's brother/twin, Cameron, had sought help from Jemma without consoling the powerhouse of the Fraser Park.

Beth's character was beautifully crafted. A woman who had devoted so much of her time to work that her personal identity seemed to have dissolved. Whereas, Jemma brimmed with positivity on her online presence, didn't even realize when her love for the craft evaded into a requirement for her living. Something she was supposed to do.

Like an onion, they peeled each other's layers, provided solutions, supported one another. And I live for that. Love or no love, women who support one another rather than being scorned after a misunderstanding, are amazing. Even though there was an attraction on sight, the story helps both the characters explore that attraction into something more.

The side characters. Cameron, Luke, and Abigail. So, so cute.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this opportunity

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Love is a Wild Ride
I really enjoyed this book. As with all the awesomeness of Ms Radley’s other books, this one is well written, easy and fast to read and full of feels. It is so easy to get lost in this story and forget the world around you. I was submerged into another world where I could almost smell the popcorn and hear the noises of a busy amusement park. I love it when I am able to get this swept away with a tale. I adored watching these two lovely women struggle with their developing feelings for each other as they work so hard to keep their businesses running smoothly, even in the face of adversity. Beth has so much on her plate with money troubles, a hostile board, her forgetful brother and a case of hypertension that is getting worse. She has been put in the place of having to be an ice queen but a tender heart beats underneath. Jemma works just as hard putting so much pressure on herself but she keeps an upbeat attitude while being generous and kind. They are truly made for each other, being supportive and strong when the other needs a boost. Cameron’s kids are a lot of fun too. I loved how quickly they bonded with Jemma and how natural she was with them. Not all is easy and Beth has some hard times that strain and stress her over and above everyday pressures and because I was so very invested in these characters, I worried and stressed right along with her. I think this book might be my new favourite of Ms Radley’s and I know you will love it too.

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