This was an enjoyable read - well written with an interesting premise and likeable characters. The author had done a good job depicting Flora’s mental health issues, and it was nice to see a main character with social anxiety and OCD for a change. Flora and the other lead, Mack, had good chemistry but I feel like the insta-attraction detracted from it the believability a bit. I liked both characters and they were sweet together, however, Flora was way too dependent on Mack which didn’t seem very healthy as the basis of a relationship.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

This a lovely book, very nicely written.

Flora Buchanan struggles everyday of her life with her social anxiety and OCD. Her life is as ordered and controlled as she can make it until one day she is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mack Sharkey, the enforcer for the family business just happens to be at the right place and time to save Flora from a harrowing experience. A connection is formed between Mack and Flora which lays dormant for almost two years. They reconnect when Mack opens her barbershop next door to Flora’s sweet shop.
This is an interesting story for many reasons. The setting of the city of Glasgow as well as a ‘family’ business which went legit in the 1980’s but still pushes the legal boundaries creates an intriguing background. Reading about the stresses and pressures Flora lives every minute of every day is enlightening and heartbreaking at the same time.
Jenny Frame is a much published author with many well liked novels. That being said Sweet Surprise is an entertaining novel with issues. The attraction between Mack and Flora happens within the first five percent of the novel. Even with the plot containing a year and a half gap it felt much too quick and forced into the story. As well, Mack’s softer side would be more credible if there was more visibility to it in the gap section. The last thing is the over use of the word ‘safe’ and any variation of it. Frame presents the reasons for Flora to feel protected and guarded in a well thought out manner. The over utilization of the word ‘safe’ is mere repetition.
The end of the novel left me feeling hopeful for many who suffer from mental illness. If there needs to be a reason to read Sweet Surprise this beyond a doubt is a compelling rational.

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

This story is cute. The romance is nicely paced and has an excellent inclusion of two neuro atypical characters as well as a good portrayal of someone with OCD. It could have done with a bit more menace in places and I’m not so sure about the way it skirted Mack’s violent past, but I can see the rationale of how that would make Flo feel safe; especially as the premise is butch-femme. I definitely need to know more about Nikki. She was the most intriguing woman in the book.

Sweet Surprise is a fairytale romance between Mack, the enforcer for a notorious crime family that turned legit but still operates in grey areas at times, and Flora who own a sweets shop and struggles with social anxiety, OCD and PTSD.
Mack is freshly out of prison where she ended up while protecting the family head and her cousin Nikki. Mack is the family protector and she takes on the same role in Flo’s life and a sweet love story develops between the 2 women. Hopefully Frame will pick up Nikki’s story as a follow up.
I enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a sweet romance than this is book is the right choice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Whenever I read a Jenny Frame book I have mixed emotions. The author’s story are usually very sweet, but there is always this relationship dynamic that just doesn’t sit right with me. To me it borders on the ridiculous.

Flora suffers from several rather severe mental health issues, when she meets Mack she feels instantly safe. Mack is a Sharkey, why should you care? They are former gangsters in Glasgow and their name still has some pull. All there dealings are now legit, but they do fight any and all sorts of bullies they don’t want on their streets and a fiercely protective of their own. Mack has an instant licking to her wee mouse and is overly protective of Flo. Flo has a sort of hero worship going on towards Mack, and this is where the author loses me. Flo is extremely dependent on Mack and I just don't like that. I get how Mack is supposed t be the tough butch and all that but this sort of dynamic just doesn't work for me. It's a standard for this author though so I shouldn't be surprised. I think I would actually really enjoy Frame’s books if this dynamic just wasn't so over the top and a tad more balanced.

I enjoy the author's writing, it's easy and comfortable, just the story that is told doesn't suit me. I'm sure many others will enjoy this for the sweet romance that it is, I just can't get over the dynamic. I do want to say I appreciate how the author handled mental health issues, although it's a bit unbelievable when Flo starts therapy and how she is with Mack, I do feel like it's a good try with showing some neurodiversity.
Check out some other reviews of you are interested in this book, 3 stars from me.

3.75 stars. When I pick up a book by Frame I generally know what I can expect and this book fits right in with that expectation as it is a sweet (yes sweet) butch-femme romance. A bit different from previous books that I read by Frame is that one of the protagonists deals with mental health issues and I thought (with my limited knowledge) that this was handled well.

Flora does not expect to ever find a partner as she has a social anxiety, OCD and PTSD, she is very introverted and prefers being alone, but deep down she hopes to find this one person who understands her and who she can share her life with. I don’t know much about mental health disorders, but through Flora I got a good feeling for what it is like to deal with this every minute of the day. Her compulsions, that tire her, and also the incomprehension of others who generally think she’s a weirdo. I also liked to see that this is not something that just disappears when you meet someone that you feel safe with (Mack in this case). There was only one moment near the end were the believability on the mental health problems was a bit shaky, but I enjoyed this storyline anyway.

Mack is part of the infamous Sharkey family in Glasgow. They run a legitimate empire now, but sometimes they still have to operate on the edge of the law, which landed her in prison. Now she’s just released from prison and wants to run a quiet business as a barber and it turns out that her shop is located next to that of Flora.
I read ex-con in the blurb and was immediately interested, but this was not the ex-con story I expected. Mack has been in prison for 1.5 years, but it has no real impact on the story line. It hasn’t shaped her mentally (or at least this is not discussed) and it has also no effect on her future life as her connections and family wealth allow her to start her own barber shop without any problems. Also, I expected (maybe I misunderstood the blurb) that she would turn the other cheek to her previous life, and this too is not entirely the case. So, if you’re expecting a book really focusing on an ex-con redemption arc, this is not it.
That said I did very much enjoy the romance between Mack and Flora. They immediately share a connection. Under her tough appearance Mack is chivalrous, gentle and sensitive and puts in a lot of effort to understand Flora and make her feel safe (sometimes she’s a bit too good to be true, but who cares) and Flora is very slowly opening up to Mack. There were a couple of interesting side characters and then there was Dexter! I love a good doggie.

All in all, this is a sweet romance and as with most of Frame’s books there is also a little bit of action in the book as well, which worked well with the storyline of Mack’s past.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹.

Jenny Frame's books follow a certain formula - Fairytale romances in a homonormative universe with a gentleman-butch to sweep a femme off her feet. Some stories can get a bit cheesy but the rest are sweet and if this formula appeals to you, you'll love her books a lot.

I have a soft spot for Frame's books and I love this one. It's kinda sweet and a really pleasant read. Mack comes from an infamous triad family. Flora is the owner of a sweet shop and is a bit of a social recluse with OCD, anxiety issues and PTSD. The characters are distinctively different from each other in personality and background but their lives collide when Mack saves Flora from danger one night. They reconnect about two years later when Mack opens a barber shop next door and they share a deep connection. I love Mack's rock-solid character underneath the gangster reputation. She's sensitive, thoughtful, gentle, loyal and fiercely protective of the people she cares about. I love that Mack takes on the role of Flora's 'guardian angel' and becomes what Flora needs most and I love how gentle and patient she is with her and how she cares enough to help Flora step out of her shell.

This book put me in a good mood, as many of Frame's books do. But more than that, Flora reminded me, in more ways than one, of my girlfriend and she sees a bit of the resemblence too. Just the minor stuff.

I'm not sure if this book is part of a series or if Frame intends to do a follow-up book but I really want a book about Mack's cousin, Nikki.

Flora and Mack both been through a lot in their lives. Flora has mental issues that she trying to overcome and it’s a process because of this she doesn’t think she’ll find anyone to love. Mack just got out of prison for taking the fall for her cousin who should’ve share the jail sentence now that she out all she want is to live quiet life running her barbershop. Flora and Mack grow closer I like how Mack helps Flora and vice versus.

It’s two people who found each other when they needed the most. Enjoyable read I hope we get a story with Nikki I like character.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This book follows the story of retired gang banger, Mack Sharkey, from the notorious Sharkey clan and Flora Buchanan, the owner of a sweetshop. After taking the fall for her Cousin (leader of Sharkey gang) Mack is looking forward to a simple life running her own small barbershop which happens to be right next to Flora's shop. Immediately infatuated with the shy Flora, Mack yearns to get closer to her except Flora may just be more than she bargained for. Dealing with her own problems of OCD, PTSD and anxiety Flora is instantly flustered by the charming Mack.

I absolutely loved all the characters in this book. Flora is adorable and deserves the world and I liked how Mack was willing to give her that. They had amazing chemistry that I genuinely think Frame did a good job at writing. However, I do have a small problem with it but I'll get to that in a bit. Mack was a nice enough character but does seemingly have a bit of a saviour complex which did get a bit annoying but I still liked her character. That saviour complex definitely wasn't intentional, most likely an exaggerated attempt to make her a caring character.

I think this genre definitely works with Frame's writing and I'd love to see more crime filled stories by her. But a big problem that I've always had with her books is her pacing. Specifically with the relationship portion of her books. The characters get together and are immediately ready for everlasting commitment and they're exchanging "I love yous". This type of insta-love type story doesn't really work for her and it kind of ruined the tension between Mack and Flora. Also would've liked the conflict to have last a bit longer and see a bit more fallout from it. ​I will say this book does have significant improvement from the last book I read by her! It's amazing to see her continue growing.

That being said, I do recommend this book. Likable characters, interesting storyline and good writing.

I like Jenny Frame books. However, none that I’ve read have ever really been 5 star reads. The writing isn’t bad but the dialogue tends to be a little cheesy. I liked the premise of this story but I would have liked it more if the one main was a little more… gritty? Overall though, I did enjoy reading this book but I don’t think I’ll be rereading it any time soon.

When anxiety, OCD, and PTSD are the first line in the blurb, it's just going to make me pay double attention to that. And Reading this book on world mental health day, it's somehow reassuring. In the first few chapters, I was afraid this is one of those books that characters with mental health issues will suddenly get better just because they met the right person, and I was so glad this is not one of those.

There are flaws in this book, a few typos, and it got a bit repetitive at times, but overall I think I am enjoying it and I love Frame's writing style. Flora is undoubtedly lovable, and Mack is like this person who'd say and do all the right things. It almost feels unreal, but sometimes you just need a comfort character, and Mack will grow on you. Mack's cousin Nikki also caught my attention; it seems there's a lot of potential in this character, and I wish there would be a squeal that is about Nikki(finger cross)