Ella loses her job after her office romance boyfriend does a selfish move to better himself without honking about who will get hurt in the wake. It’s an eye opening event that helps her see what a narcissist he is.

Upon looking for new jobs, she takes what she can get. It’s at a construction site, and she has no idea what she’s doing when it comes to construction, but project managing is project managing.

I really enjoyed this one. Nice, sweet and simple. Ella is sweet and deserves the world. You’re so happy to see her move away from Lee and honestly wonder how she dated him for 5 years as he is a selfish wet blanket.

Cute and just right.

3.5 stars rounded up

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a cute, funny, contemporary romcom set in England about a project manager named Ella whose life is derailed when her longtime boyfriend and colleague Lee jumps ship to work for her company's competitor, causing her to lose her job. Deciding that her boyfriend is a selfish narcissist that she has made excuses for for far too long, she takes a job in southern England working as a project manager on a building site - something she's never done before. As she slowly starts to get her feet underneath her, and gains the respect of her colleagues, the rug is once again pulled out from underneath her.

At first I didn't like Ella because I felt that she was too blind to Lee's antics. It was clear he was a jerk and it was annoying that an otherwise smart and capable woman wouldn't see through his lies. But, it's always easier to see the manipulations from the outside, so I cut her some slack and rooted for her instead. Especially when she took a leap of faith on herself, even if spurred by her refusal to cave to Lee's manipulations.

I liked her relationship with Noah and how they became good friends first and genuinely liked each other before making it anything more. Ella grew in confidence and began to rely on herself again, which is always a good thing. The gruff foreman with a penchant for nickname-giving was a fantastic character and added levity to the book. He is proof positive that looks are often deceiving. The shenanigans going on at the job-site were predictable, but that was fine. It wasn't the main focus of the story so that minor annoyance didn't detract from the book.

If you're looking for a cute and fluffy book to spend an afternoon with, this is the book for you. I was provided a complimentary e-copy of the book from Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review.

Love At First Site is a wonderful romance and is written with a very strong female lead and I loved that!

Ella was a wonderful, strong character and I really enjoyed getting involved in her life and learning all about her.

Noah was also a wonderful character too and made the most perfect lead hero and together with Ella, they worked really well together.

This was such an easy book to read and I found myself flying through the pages trying to find out what was going to happen next.

Love At First Site was such a sweet and fun romance and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it……..

Such a cute book! I loved reading about Ella and Noah while learning about the building business. The characters were likable, the book was well-written, and I smiled through the entire story!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This is such a cute book and I really loved it. The only thing that knocked it down a star was that I really wanted her to leave her boyfriend faster than she did. Like sweetie can you not see the signs?! But other than that this book has a great female character, a nice male interest but is just a cute and quick read.

'Love at First Site' is a classic romantic comedy that exudes charm and delight. I was able to read this uplifting and mood-boosting book in just 24 hours! The plotline maintains a consistent flow, and despite starting slowly according to my preferences, the tempo escalates halfway through.

Ella and Noah are excellent main characters. The character of Ella is depicted as a strong and determined individual who actively pursues her goals, while Noah displays the actions of a persistent hero. I particularly liked that Ella is placed in a non-stereotypical workplace, which gives the story a contemporary and relatable feel. Additionally, Ella's personal journey is inspiring, and her growth throughout the novel is both motivating and worthwhile.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a heartwarming romance that's quick and easy to read, then this book is definitely worth checking out. 'Love at First Site' is out now, and well worth picking up!

Love at first Site is a light-hearted, enjoyable and humorous romance. Phoebe MacLeod manages to fill the story with joy laughter, so much happiness, it’s such a wonderful and cute read. I would myself smiling, or rather sat with a grin on my face several times throughout reading this.

MacLeod writes such wonderful characters and Ella has a special place in my heart – she’s so committed , her inner stern and determination are inspiring , I loved how she won over everyone including even her fiercest of opponents. Noah is a pure sweetheart, I was willing them on, really wanted both of them to be happy. A minor criticism would be that we only meet Noah around halfway through the book, I would’ve liked to meet him earlier so that we got more time with both Noah and Ella.

Phoebe McLeod has written such an uplifting story, I love the romance alongside the growth and development of Ella, chasing dreams, and the transformation she goes through, with a little help and assistance from Noah. It really is about fresh starts a new beginnings. Such an interesting romance , one I highly recommend.

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

thank you to netgalley and Marcela Torres for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I find that Phoebe MacLeod writes her romances into her books slowly (I say while having read two, including this book lol). That isn't a fault, but something that does take some time getting used to. But once we're in it, it's obvious as hell. It does make me wish there would be no third-act break-ups in her books, they feel all the more unnecessary. Is this actually my second PM book? (I went to check, it is not. It is my third. So my opinion stands on firmer ground!) However, she still writes her books pleasantly enough that I do bother coming back.

On to the book at hand: in my opinion the best one I've read of her. Ella is a (mostly) competent working woman trying to get a promotion when the worst thing happens: a man. Her man, to be specific. He cocks up all her plans for his own selfish gain <spoiler> which in the end is ruined by her sister, to which I say: fuck yeah. What a useless prick. I was so glad to see him down in the dumps, still getting more than he deserved, but we can't have it all I suppose. Fuck you Lee x </spoiler>. After this event, in which she loses her job, her credibility, her man, her house and her independence, she applies for a job that is totally foreign to her and gets it! From there on out (say 40 percent in. Ms MacLeod sets the story up very thoroughly) shenanigans ensue as she tries to find her footing at her new job (which a sexy sexy site manager) and her new hometown (with the caravan of literal shit).

Overall, the books flows nicely, the pacing is quick enough to keep your attention, the characters are interesting (and not bumbling idiots, which is nice) (but Ella can be a bit thick..... like girl...... come on now) and while the book is not perfect, it is nice. And I needed nice. So four stars this gets.

Looks can be deceiving, especially in Ella’s life; it looks like she has it all, and she’s managing to keep her relationship a secret from colleagues at work. But when her secret isn’t as secret as she thought and her relationship soon comes to an end, a new start is exactly what she needs.

A new job in an industry she doesn’t know and an area far away from her current one sounds scary but a little bit of help will go a long way.

This is a light romantic read, where you cheer for the characters from the start, I loved the chemistry Ella and Noah had and felt the narrative had great growth for the character of Ella.

I have read several books by MacLeo and I look forward to reading many more

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book. I enjoyed it a lot!

I am a huge fan of Phoebe MacLeod and her writing, and after already reading and loving An Un Romantic Comedy and Someone Else’s Honeymoon, I knew that I was going to love this book just as much, and I wasn’t wrong. In Love at First Site, the story is centered around main character, Ella.

Ella is the type of person who has her whole life mapped out – she has an amazing job, and a great relationship with her boyfriend Lee – but the one thing in Ella’s life that is not so great is the fact she has to hide her relationship with Lee from everyone. You see Ella and Lee work at the same company – and relationships with co-workers are certainly not deemed to be appropriate.

What Ella is not expecting is when a big work deal comes crashing down around them, Lee hands in his notice and announces that he is going to work for a rival company – all on the same day. As Ella begins to see Lee for who he really is, her life begins to unravel in front of her eyes.

Deciding she needs a fresh start away from Lee and all the history between them – Ella accepts a job offer as a Construction Project Manager. This is where Ella meets Noah, who is one of the construction workers on site – the chemistry between the two of them is obvious from the start. But can Ella put aside her past hurt and heartache, and start a relationship with Noah, or will her past hurt stop her from being happy?

Love at First Site is an adorably sweet romantic read. The developing romance between Ella and Noah is so adorable to see developing. The perfect lighthearted and fun summer read.

Cover: It’s cute!

Oh wow, this story is giving me war flashbacks, haha. In my 2xpast life, I worked as a project manager in a male-dominated field, too, and many things sound, uh, familiar? Like, that’s my house and Love at First Site just landed a hit in the backyard. Ouch.

However, as much as I don’t miss those times, I found myself engrossed in Ella’s life right from the start. She’s stuck with a boyfriend who is a real piece of work, she’s having problems at work, and yet she takes it all in stride. As if nothing shakes her up, not really—when I hear about strong female characters, Ella is the first that comes to mind.

The secondary characters fit the story and do a great job in supporting the plot. As much as I despise Lee, he’s the one behind Ella’s growth arc, after all. A special mention goes to John: ‘Eric is called Paul, I think, and Derek is Richard. It might be the other way around’. ASDFDGJKGH, for many, many reasons.

I have nothing but good things to say about the technical aspects. The grammar is correct, the story flows without a hitch, and the prose is pleasant to read. I found myself cackling when sarcasm flew over people’s (read: Lee) head, like, is he for real?

The answer is yes.

Maybe I would have liked Love at First Site even better if Ella didn’t appear so naïve here and there; staying with Lee and not figuring out sooner Deborah’s endgame are two details that left me a little baffled. Still, it’s a delightful book and it deserves all the praises.

4.5 stars on GR.

Ella Mackenzie is a project manager who
Never anticipated what her boyfriend would do.
His antics left her feeling distraught and let down
Redundant and looking for jobs in any town.

When her sister convinces her to apply for one on construction sites
She's sure she doesn't stand a chance - especially as she doesn't like heights!
Quick lessons from her brother-in-law help her grow
More knowledge about construction and what she needs to know.

With the help of Noah can she manage her new role
Or will delivery mishaps take their toll?
With new skills to learn, new people to meet,
Will this be a disaster or a real treat?

A delightful romcom with a mystery to resolve, too,
A new romance and plenty of things to do.
There are secrets and antics remaining concealed
And a fabulous ending when these are revealed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful read
And highly recommend it if a romcom you need.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Another entertaining read from Phoebe Macleod!

Everything in Ella's life is getting a second look since it's not as perfect as she thought.
She did think that she had everything she needed - an amazing job as a project manager, an incredible view from her penthouse, and a man who's crazy about her. But then, Ella's boyfriend, Lee, ended up being a real disappointment. He secretly switched jobs with a rival company, leaving her without a job and feeling lost.

Now tired of sponging off her parents, Ella, takes up a job as a project manager in a construction company. This is a completely new and not women-friendly industry. Being all out of options, she sticks on. The friendship of Noah, the foreman, helps her find her feet. Will she also find love on the site?

Fun and enjoyable, I enjoyed reading this on a sun bed! The characters were pleasant and the storyline ticked along nicely!

Ella finds herself made redundant when the company she works for loses an account. It just so happens that Ella's live in boyfriend who works for the same company threw the bid and then went to work for the company that won the bid. She takes a good look at her relationship and decides it's time to move on. She needs a new place to live and a new job. She finds both and begins to move her life in a new direction. Easy read - good story.

This book started off okay. I’m glad I read the blurb, otherwise I wouldn’t have known that Ella and Lee were in a relationship until the middle of chapter 2, where Ella states “you might be wondering why Lee and I have to keep our relationship secret”. 😳 Up until that point, there was no emotion showing they liked each other or even the implication of feelings. Unfortunately, that lack of feelings carried over to most of the rest of the book, and sadly got so bad at the end, it felt more like a diary entry of someone replaying their daily conversations. I wasn’t even slightly convinced Ella enjoyed her job or her life or her family or even the guy she supposedly fell in love with. There was so little action, and most of the book seemed to be walking the reader through what happened rather than actually showing it through action and feeling. The big mystery happened off page and, surprise, we found out by an emotionless conversation over lunch where you couldn’t be sure they were even doing anything because of the lack of anyone doing anything but talking about what happened. I ended up skimming the last two chapters just to be done.

Three stars because the first two thirds of the book made me invested enough to think it might go somewhere.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Ella loses her job no thanks to her boyfriend Lee, she soon leaves him behind for a new challenge. With the help of new colleague Noah she is starting to enjoy her new job, but will she trust dating a colleague after last time? A great read, I liked both main characters and wanted everything to work out for them.

Another absolutely enjoyable and fun read by Phoebe MacLeod! Her novel is light-hearted, funny and the perfect romantic story. I never learned so much about construction and project managers yet I still adored the book! I enjoyed seeing the development of a strong relationship build between Ella and Noah. MacLeod uses the friend to lovers trope beautifully in this book. Just as a I have enjoyed and loved her previous books, I have now added this book to my collection as well.

***************************************
Ella believes she has all she needs - a job as a project manager that she adores, a lovely penthouse view and a man she loves and believes loves her. Her boyfriend, Lee, does NOT turn out to be all she thinks he is and when he goes behind her back, in secret changing jobs with a rival company, Ella suddenly finds herself out of a job and lost. Ella re-evaluates everything in her life to find out it was not as perfect as she thought.

Of course, this all leads to a new beginning, new challenges and an entirely new out look on life. Ella finds herself taking a project manager job for a construction site. She has no idea what she is doing however she makes new friends and learns a great deal - especially about Noah - the construction foreman. Being with Noah opens Ella's eyes to a completely different view of life.

****************************************
MacLeod's book is filled with laugher, smiles and shear happiness in the end! This a great book for a quick summer read filled with challenges and romance!

I’ll admit I’m not always the world’s biggest fan of books set in the workplace – I’ve been retired for quite a few years now, and it’s not somewhere I generally feel particularly comfortable. But this one – well, it couldn’t have been more perfect, because a large chunk of my working life was spent as a project manager. And I could really identify with Ella’s sense of pride and achievement as she put the finishing touches to her project plan, with its dependencies perfectly defined and the costs pinned down to the nearest penny. Things only go badly wrong when she hands it over to her partner Lee – a relationship they’ve kept hidden from their employers – and it turns out that he has an agenda all of his own. When he loses a lucrative contract, she becomes implicated in his actions – first suspended, then selected for redundancy when a series of cuts is implemented (and her relationship with Lee has rather reached the end of the road too).

Licking her wounds while staying with her family near Harrogate, she finds that project management jobs are thin on the ground in her home town of Leeds – but her sister Ava (she’s a great minor character – who makes some particularly timely and astute interventions too!) pushes her to apply for a project management job in Kent, working for a construction company building a new estate. Transferable skills, right? And Ava’s husband teaches her some of the terms she’ll come across, help her fit in a bit. But when she arrives, she discovers why the job fell into her lap so easily – it turns out there’s a bit of a scam going on, and one she’s unlikely to spot – as well as facing the everyday sexism of the builders who don’t feel a building site is somewhere “a bird” should be. But with the support and friendship of site manager Noah, the mutual respect starts to build – and she learns a whole new skill set helping him do up a house at the weekends, while their friendship begins to build into something rather more.

I really took Ella to my heart – her determination to do the right thing despite the personal consequences, the edge of steel she developed dealing with the complications of management and suppliers. And I loved the way she won over the workforce on the building site – her fiercest opponent John (who heads up the chippies) turning into a total teddy bear. The romance might come late in the story, with the initial focus on Ella’s need to decide her future path, but I must say it was everything I wanted it to be – Noah’s just the loveliest man (especially when compared to Lee…), and I really wanted them to get their happy ending. There’s plenty of humour, and the whole story is beautifully written and really hooked me in – and there are plenty of nicely-handled emotional moments too.

I really enjoyed this one – something a little different, and I’ll look forward to reading more from this talented author. A definite recommendation from me!