Not your usual chic-lit novel, the characters have depth and definitely grow on you. Felt it dragged slightly in the middle of the book but overall I would recommend, Good holiday read.

This is a first book from this author I’ve read and I wasn’t disappointed. Expecting a wedding followed by a honeymoon then back to work was not a story line that was followed. A number of twists and turns interwoven with love happen along the way and Lucy keeps you guessing right till the end. I loved her easy to read writing and appropriate length chapters. Thanks Lucy Dillon and NetGalley. A definite recommended book.

Thanks to netgalley for a chance to read this book.

Jeannie meets Dan through a dating website and within 5 months he proposes and she’s says yes. It’s the day of the wedding and Jeannie is having second thoughts, she feels that she doesn’t know Dan enough to commit to him forever. On the way to the church she’s rings him but gets his voicemail and leaves a message. Not long after the phone call she’s receives a phone call to tell her Dan has been involved in a serious accident After walking in front of a bus whilst on his phone and is fighting for his life. Did he listen to the voicemail, will he survive and if he does will she tell him that she was going to call the wedding off.

Brilliant read.

I loved this book.. Imagine your bridgroom - on his way to the wedding - is knocked down by a bus, just after you messaged him to say you couldn't go through with it, what do you do? This is Jeannie's dilemma. From start to finish this book had me gripped, it's an emotional rollercoaster.

I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration of the rush of initial love/lust vs the deep love you can build a marriage on. It was just what I needed during a dark, cold and depressing December week.

Jeannie is on her way to marry Dan when she begins to have doubts about how well she really knows him after a wonderful but whirlwind romance. At the same time, he's involved in a horrible car crash and ends up in a coma.

Afterwards Jeannie struggles to get through each day; everyone thinks she is grieving her wedding day - should she be? Now she must play the part of the loving nearly-bride, all while trying to figure out who Dan really is and what they really mean to one another.

She gets on with life in the cottage they were supposed to live in together, still making time to sit at his bedside with his family members every day. Making friends with her new neighbours, and even his mates that he never quite got around to introducing. Figuring out who she is!

Jeannie is a well-realised character and I truly felt her worries and concerns. The secondary characters came to life very well too and when the book was closed, I missed spending time with them.

A satisfying read that's nearly an unromance, yet a romance at the same time (you'll know what I mean if you read it). I'll return to this author in the future, I'm sure.

Jeannie always wanted to fall in love, and now she’s finally got the whirlwind romance she dreamed of. Dan’s gorgeous, he’s a successful young vet, and he flew her to New York and proposed on Brooklyn Bridge. Jeannie has to remind herself this is actually her life. It seems too perfect, too magical, to be real. Yet it is. But now she’s on her way to the wedding she can’t shake off the tight sensation crushing her chest. Is it just nerves or is this all happening a bit too fast? Jeannie has one last chance to shout, ‘Stop!’ But just as she grabs it, a twist of fate throws everything she knows into the air like confetti. What Jeannie learns about Dan, about her own heart, and about the power of love itself, will change her world for ever.

I really enjoyed this book until the end which was very disappointing. The characters were great and I loved reading about the rescue centre and the wedding dresses. The end seemed to go nowhere and left me hanging and unfulfilled.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy.

Made me laugh made me cry and made a very enjoyable read with great characters and an interesting storyline.
Jeannie and Dan have a whirlwind romance and we meet them on their wedding day. Two unexpected events happen, Jeannie gets cold feet and wants to call the wedding off and Dan gets hits by a bus and is left in a coma.
As Jeannie sits by Dan's bedside, she learns about his life before she met him, his friends, his ambitions and his hopes.
this is a lovely story about rebuilding lives, beginning to trust again and falling in love/

I really really enjoyed this, it was a nice and different, not a typical love story. It was also lovely to revisit some old friends, and the characters were warmly written,especially Gem.
Lucy Dillon is one of my favourite writers in this genre, there's always a good balance of laughter and tears. A definite recommend for those cold winter nights.

I love books written by Lucy Dillon and this one didn’t disappoint. A really nice story, well written and thought provoking.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for a review. I will leave this review on Amazon.

It took me a little longer to grow into the book at the start, but I’m glad I continued! Such an uplifting read with believable emotions and feelings. I loved each character for their own traits and roles.

The book begins at a fast pace and immediately draws you in. Jeannie is on her way to marry Dan, her fiance, but is full of doubts and uncertainties. Dan suffers a devastating accident, and as the story unfolds you become engrossed in this entertaining, gripping read.

As Jeannie waits for Dan to recover she becomes involved with Eleanor, the wife of his new boss, and her work helping to rescue animals which have been neglected and abused. This introduces her into a world of making new friends, becoming involved with Eleanor’s charity, helping with day to day care, and helping to gain funding to keep the charity afloat. The characters are well written and interesting, with a touch of humour, and gives Jeannie a chance to take stock of her life and what decisions she must make about her future.

It all makes an interesting, light-hearted story about relationships and family, written in a realistic, descriptive way. The author obviously knows and loves animals and this shows in the story, you are moved to tears at times. Characters are so well written you feel you know them. People aren’t all good or bad, but a mixture of both, and as a reader, you feel empathy with the characters. This is an enjoyable read, which I didn’t want to finish. I will be looking out for more books by this author, and recommend highly.

'She'd seen so much love over the past weeks: practical, real love; love that cushioned pain and disappointment, and stretched to carry the loved ones over obstacles, reaching as far as the horizon, never in doubt. Patient, long-suffering, deep, comforting, and always growing.'

Jeannie should be on cloud nine. She finally has the great love that she always wanted, after being proposed to on the Brooklyn Bridge by gorgeous vet Dan. Everything is perfect. Sure, Jeannie might have a few teeny tiny doubts, but that's normal, right? But when she's faced with one last chance to decide whether Dan is really what she wants, fate throws a curveball her way, and everything changes...

Now, this is almost impossible to review without some spoilers. So, if you haven't read the book, all you need to know is that it is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of love and its many lessons, and that I recommend it wholeheartedly. It's a beautiful story with a wonderful cast, a little bit of drama, and, like all of Lucy Dillon's books, some very cute pups! Other than that there is very little I can say without ruining it, so if you've not read it yet, please don't carry on with this review!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Ok, so Unexpected Lessons in Love begins with Jeannie on her way to marry Dan. Wracked with nerves, she knows that she can't go through with the wedding. But, after leaving a frantic voicemail for Dan explaining the situation, she receives a devastating call of her own - Dan, distracted by his phone, has been hit by a bus, and has a serious head injury. Soon after, Dan is placed in a coma, and so Jeannie (along with Dan's mum and his best man Owen) must just wait and hope for the best. But Jeannie is torn - was the accident her fault? And what will she do when he wakes up?

I really felt for Jeannie throughout the book - she's stuck in such an awful situation, and the more time goes by, the harder it is to get out of it. Seeing how she reflects on the reality of their relationship was incredibly moving, and her devotion to doing the right thing was inspiring, if at times misguided. I also loved seeing Jeannie's friendship with the dog rescue centre owner Rachel develop too - I love a good female friendship, and for all those curious, yes it is the same Rachel from Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts - I love how Dillon drops characters in from her other books!

I won't ruin the ending, as there are a few surprises along the way, but I will say it has the perfect ending, and I loved how the epilogue wrapped it all up for everyone. All in all, I absolutely adored this book. Weirdly enough, it felt like quite a christmassy read to me, which might be because it reminded me of While You Were Sleeping (my all time favourite Christmas film) - it has the same heartwarming vibe, and there's some slight similarities to the plot too. For me as a fan of Dillon's writing, it is exactly what I would expect from one of her books - a beautiful engaging read with some lovable characters (of both the two legged and four legged variety!) that will leave you smiling. Lucy Dillon is an author who I would recommend to anyone, and Unexpected Lessons In Love is some of her finest work yet.

Absolutely fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and will be buying the authors previous work and will be watching for her next books.
If you love- love and dogs, then this is for you! I didn’t quite expect the ending, when I first started the book, but as time passed, I did guess. But as the reader, it’s what I wanted to happen!

I absolutely loved this book. This is a great story which is very relate-able, and whilst not having been in the same position, you can totally understand Jeannie's anguish. The characters are very likable and it is just a fantastic read !

I really loved this book! Jeannie is set to marry Dan but has second thoughts on the way to the church with her dad. They had only known each other a year and after his romantic proposal in NYC, thinhgs went too fast for Jeannie and here she is on her way to her wedding, thnking just how much she "loves" Dan.

She voices her doubts to her dad, who assures her that she doesn't have to go trhough with it, her happiness is paramount. So.... she sends Dan a text and ......next she hears he has had a terrible accident. Was it her text that led to him being distracted and being hit by a bus???

She now feels guilty and obliged to see this though, but she has made some wonderful friends through this tragedy and they help her through the next few months. But as Dan recovers, what should she do now??

The reason for the accident is revealed! Read this book, it is a lovely read with some moral dilemmas explored.

Lucy Dillon never disappoints with her beautifully poignant stories of love in all its many forms. Jeannie is on the way to her wedding to Dan, when her father says that he's read it's father of the bride etiquette to check that she is certain about getting married. He says this almost flippantly, so is horrified when Jeannie reveals that she cannot go through with the wedding. He does however instantly support her decision and encourages her to tell Dan. She tries to ring him, but her call goes through to his voicemail and she leaves him a message. Imagine then her reaction when Dan's best man Owen calls her to inform her that Dan has been involved in an accident when he stepped off the pavement in front of a bus because he was distracted by looking at his phone. Dan suffers a head injury and remains in a coma. As Jeannie spends time with his friend Owen and his family she begins to suspect that there is more to Dan than meets the eye. She vows to stay with him but when he finally wakes up, he claims not to know who she is. And who is the mystery package from? As the truth is revealed, Jeannie and Dan go their separate ways. But there is a happy twist to the story that will leave readers with a warm glow. A feel good story that implores us to follow our hearts, listen to our heads and live with honesty.

What an interesting, romantic and complex story. It starts with a young couple very much in love and a an unexpected proposal on Brooklyn Bridge. After that it becomes a lot more complicated for the main characters in every way. I really love the way that lucy introduces us to a dog in the story although the description of the puppy farming industry was very upsetting although we know it does go on, I'm not sure what I would have done in this situation but then circumstances take over and difficult choices are no longer an option. I will certainly read more by this enchanting author.

Enjoyable and entertaining. Likeable and engaging characters. A nice light read, with nothing to make you have to think too seriously, but leaves you a feel good feeling.

It feels like it has been forever since I have read a book by the wonderful author that is Lucy Dillon. But now having finished the gorgeous read that was Unexpected Lessons in Love, I think I can safely say that this was the right book with which to reacquaint myself with Lucy's writing. This is a lovely, easy read that I read in two sittings as the chapters just seem to fly by. It's an ideal read for this time of year when you might be too busy to settle down into reading something really serious and hard going. Here, the author has struck the perfect blend between some light-hearted and heart-warming scenarios alongside the more pressing question for our main character, Jeannie McCarthy – what happens when I do becomes I don't know?

In the brief prologue set in the city that never sleeps - New York, Jeannie seems to be having the time of her life away for a few days with her boyfriend Dan. It's a bliss she has never felt before and she feels totally caught up in the moment and romance of everything that has been building for the past several months. As Dan gets down on one knee and pops the question, of course, Jeannie says yes. Fast forward several months and as Jeannie is being driven to the wedding ceremony with her father sat alongside her - doubts, apprehension and niggles just keep flowing through her mind on what should be the happiest, most secure and contented day of her life. As she takes the bull by the horns and does what she fervently believes is right for her and makes that call to Dan, little does she know that by following what her heart and mind are both saying that in fact it will lead to devastating consequences she could never have envisaged happening.

Fate obviously had other plans in store for Jeannie and Dan and as news reaches her of what happened as she made that phone call and left a message she is torn in two and to be honest she remains that way for the majority of the book. I thought Jeannie was a brilliantly written character because although she mightn't have been truly open and honest to all those around her about how she was feeling about marrying Dan, at least the reader knew what was going on as in private she confessed an awful lot and wore her heart on her sleeve. She has made the right decision for her that maybe I do wasn't what she wanted and before the moment arrived where there was no turning back she had done something about it.

Fair play to her I thought as too often people enter into things not 100% certain and then down the line major regrets and disruption come into play. It took bravery and courage to make the decision before it was too late but unfortunately she's not sure did Dan hear what she said on the phone. As they wait for news of how things will turn out for Dan, Jeannie has to battle with what she has confessed and the fact that nobody else, bar her father and perhaps Dan, know what she said and how she is feeling.

How can she continue on as if things are normal and, if and when Dan wakes up, will their wedding, home plans and marriage be back on track? Will Jeannie discover things she wished she hadn't? Will she be able to confess all to everyone around her and will they judge her for her actions given Dan's situation? So many questions to grapple with and many more arise throughout the novel and that's what makes this story a very good read. You never knew how things were going to turn out but boy were you on Jeannie's side all the way. You felt the uncertainty and really the guilt that she was dealing with. Could she have been the source of Dan's accident? Should she carry on as normal and push her feelings to one side for the sake of Dan and their future together? But shouldn't long term individual and personal happiness count for something. We have to please and satisfy ourselves first in terms of what we want out of or lives, for if we ourselves aren't happy first how can we make those around feel safe, loved and contented?

I thought it was strong and brave of Jeannie to put on such a front because she knew as Dan couldn't have his say that things were perhaps better left unsaid until the time was right to get things out in the open. She put on a front and covered her true feelings well and it was mature and responsible of her to do so and I think if I had been in the same situation I would probably have done the very same thing. Jeannie was thinking about the bigger picture and at that time and place it was the right thing to do but deep down she knew the truth would have to come out at some stage. But perhaps there is more than one truth to be shared?

The setting of the novel and some other characters began to niggle away at me quite early on in the book so I stopped and checked and was delighted to see and then remember in more detail that Longhampton was the setting of some of Lucy's earlier books and I had loved this village and its residents. I was thrilled to see Rachel from Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts make a reappearance. It was great that she featured so heavily once again and that the rescue kennels she runs would play such an important role in Jeannie's story, not to mention all the mentions of dogs and puppies. The author raised a very important issue and weaved it in wonderfully with the overall themes of the book as it is definitely a theme which sadly features in the news and social media all too prominently these days.

Rachel and some other characters become a tower of strength for Jeannie as she battles through a maelstrom of emotions trying to act as if everything is normal when really one little slip or a sudden awakening could upset the apple cart altogether. But as the title suggests there are plenty of unexpected lessons to be learned in love and as the story progresses and through the story of many other women and their weddings and dresses Jeannie comes to realise the value of true love and that perhaps we should always be honest. Yes she had tried to do that in the first place but then bottled up what had been said because of what had happened but maybe she should have followed her heart and mind the whole way through instead of putting on a façade that surely had to come crashing down at some stage. She should have always thought of herself instead of letting other people's actions and feelings over ride hers.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading Unexpected Lessons in Love. It's a charming read that shows the best things can often come from the worst beginnings and that maybe love does stand a chance of surviving stupidity and mistakes. Or maybe it can't? You'll have to read this book to discover the answers. I will say towards the end the author threw in a few surprises that I hadn't seen coming even though I did have my suspicions but couldn't really pinpoint anything specific. It all helped to make for a great read and this book has reminded me that I should catch up with the books I have not read by Lucy Dillon as she really is a fantastic author.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC im exchange for a fair and honest review. A delightful read from Lucy Dillon. Her books are always like a warm hug and some quality time with a good friend. Being a crazy dog lady myself I love how this book and many of her others have dogs in them and that the dogs in them also teach the reader about love and other life lessons as well. Whilst this book centres on Jeannie's abruptly halted wedding day and her coming to terms with whether or not she is intending to marry the right guy for her, it also includes continuation of the love story between Rachel and George from her previous novels. Lucy Dillon is one of my favourite Chicklit authors each.book I have read of hers has been a delightful, enchanting read. #netgalley #goodreads #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookstagram #amazon#kindle #unexpectedlessonsinlove #lucydillon #penguinbooks #randomhouseuk