Member Reviews
Bella Osborne - Finding Love At Sunset Shore.
Take two best friends, who are complete opposites. Add in a fake relationship, a grumpy hunky farmer, a cheeky pooch and an angry cockerel. Throw in some heartfelt emotion and a few funnies. Give it all a shake, and what you get is another gorgeous read from Bella Osborne.
#FindingLoveAtSunsetShore has characters that you will instantly like, sometimes feel infuriated with, but ultimately you will care about what happens to them.
I loved the friendship between Ros and Darla. It shouldn’t have worked, but it really did!
Cameron is the most perfect fake boyfriend. I fell a little bit in love with his sunny disposition and thoughtful kindness.
I am a huge fan of Bella Osborne’s writing. There is something about her books that is always relatable and she never fails to make me laugh with her down to earth humour.
I have read each and every one of Bella’s books and I can say, hand on heart, that they are all, without fail, a glorious place to lose yourself in.
#FindingLoveAtSunsetShore is quite simply a flippin lovely read. It is genuinely funny, has a big heart, warm and supportive friendships, family love, romance, hot book boyfriends and a menagerie of quirky animals. What’s not to love?
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Finding Love at Sunset Shore is another heartwarming love story by Bella Osborne.
Sometimes, a bookworm just needs to read a charming, sweet romance, and this book checks off all those boxes. It's just a delightful read. There is just so much to love about this book. If you are looking for an easy, breezy romance to get lost in for the afternoon, then this book is for you. Bella's a great storyteller who keeps her readers entertained and engaged with what they are reading. Finding Love at Sunset Shore is a two-for-one romance, and what I mean by this is that we get to watch Ros and her best friend Darla find their perfect match. I loved the friendship between Ros and Darla. They have such polar opposite personalities but can have such a solid and deep friendship. Ros is very blunt, socially awkward, and sees the world in black and white. Darla is a big ball of fun energy and maintains a wonderful, positive attitude no matter what happens in life. They are so good for each other, and I loved their friendly and witty banter.
Ros and Darla are both fantastic characters. Ros, though initially prickly, undergoes a beautiful transformation as the story progresses. Her growing relationship with Cameron, who is a positive influence in her life, is a testament to the power of love and understanding. I'm not always a fan of fake dating books, but I loved this one. I devoured the reversed grumpy sunshine romance between Ros and Cameron. Cameron was such a great influence on Ros. He was understanding and charming and gently pushed her to try new things.
Finding Love at Sunset Shore is heartwarming and perfect for bookworms who are looking for a sweet pick-me-up read.
Such a cute summer read. I'm a huge Bella Osborne fan and I loved this one.
Cameron and Ros were a lovely duo and my heart went out to Darla. Bella always manages to transport you to the pages and it was such a lovely story to be involved in.
I'm excited for Bella's next book, I just know it will be equally as amazing.
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Finding Love at Sunset Shore by Bella Osborne
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Sometimes, you have to fake it until you make it…
Ros is too busy for a boyfriend; between work and looking after her poorly father, there’s no time left for a relationship. But when she overhears her dad's dying wish is for her to find love, Ros is determined to make it happen – or at least, make it look like it has.
Enter Cameron, a struggling mature student with a mountain of debt but a zest for life.
Ros, driven by love for her ailing dad, reluctantly agrees to the simple business paying Cameron to play the role of her boyfriend. Ros meticulously plans their fake relationship – but when Cameron decides to go off-script, chaos ensues.
As Ros and Cameron navigate the ups and downs of their faux romance, their differences drive each other crazy. But they may just need each other more than they think…
My Opinion
Bella Osborne has yet to write something that I don't like, so I am always delighted when I see that there is an upcoming release. Finding Love at Sunset Shore was a lovely read and a great escape from reality. If you would like a holiday read, then look no further than this heart-warming tale. Ros and Darla are very different characters which just makes the book more entertaining.
Rating 4/5
4.5 upped to 5
I believe that the fake-relationship trope has been a staple of romance for a long time, but Bella Osborne manages to infuse it with a contemporary twist in this novel. The central characters, Ros and Cameron, feel timeless—reminiscent of those you might encounter in a Georgette Heyer novel (with perhaps some economic differences). Ros seeks a partner to make her ailing parent happy, while Cameron needs financial support.
The story unfolds in a classic “what-can-go-wrong” scenario, leading to humorous situations, emotional moments, and a hopeful anticipation of a happily-ever-after (even if we’re fairly certain it’s coming).
Osborne skillfully weaves themes of filial devotion, friendship, and romance into a well-plotted narrative.
Ros is a woman whose social skills are quite poor and her life would work-caring for her father but she's friend with Darla, who works mac-jobs but is able to relate to anyone.
Cameron is the MMC: a kind mature student who needs money to pay his debts.
They're all fleshed out and realistic and liked how they interact.
A good novel, perfect if you want to smile or have fun with some well written romance.
Many thanks to Avon and Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are mine.
Bella Osborne never fails to write an uplifting escape that pulls on the heart strings and makes you want the protagonists in your friendship group.
I loved Ros from the start even though she struggles with making friends and letting her own guard down. It was a joy to see her take risks and find more positives than she bargained for.
With delightful characters, chemistry between Ros and Cameron, and Darla and Elliott it was an ideal romance for summer days and holidays
Thank you to Avon Books and Bella Osborne for giving me the opportunity to review Find Love At Sunset Shore. I gave this book a good go as I love fake dating stories but I just could get into the plot - there are a lot of random pov and I kept wondering why some of them were involved other than to annoy me. First chapter was a brillaint start and if we could have ditched Darla pov and just had Ros's this would have worked for me. I wasn't hooked by chapter five and got frustrated with the story that I maded the hard decision to DNF. I might try this book another time as it sounded right up my normal romance alley and should have been a perfect story for me.
Already a fan of Bella Osborne books, I highly anticipated a great summer read full of escapism and romance, with a dash of humour and great characters; and that is exactly what was delivered.
The characters are what makes the book for me, Ros – awkward, straight laced, Darla – Willing to take risks, sociable, hardworking and Cameron – charming, funny, kind to all. An eclectic bunch that compliment each other well. A special mention to Gazza the dog, what a fab name ha!
Ros’ Dad hasn’t long to live and upon overhearing he wishes she would find a boyfriend, Ros forms a plan that is the start of her ordered life becoming a little more… unplanned. Cameron agrees to be her significant other; he needs the money after all but it soon becomes clear that Cameron is more than Ros took him for. Cameron brings out things in Ros she didn’t know she had.
Darla has been a best friend to Ros, even though most people would have given up and she couldn’t be less like her. She is hiding out, taking on all the jobs she can to pay off her exes debts. When a new pet sitting job turns into more than she bargained for, can she ever get on the right side of the local, grumpy farmer.
Got to love a fake relationship storyline, especially when sparks are flying and it’s clear to see the characters are bringing out the best in one another. At the heart of the story, it’s about doing what is best for those you care about, trying to make others happy no matter what. All the characters learn something about themselves and face up to things from their past.
Romance at it’s finest. I enjoyed every moment and think it’s an ideal summer read.
A fun read from Bella Osborne which made me smile.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Ros and Darla - completely oppositive in nature but works so well together as friends. Ros, socially awkward and blunt to the point of rudeness at times and Darla, with that positive can do approach to everything, always with a smile, they seemed an unlikely pairing.
Ros in Cameron’s orbit was trying to be so brave and looking to try new things. His attitude, so like Darla’s, a good influence in her life, and little by little you could see him breaking through that protective barrier Ros had installed around herself.
A highly entertaining read and as Darla says ‘ a hug is the best thing if you’re having a bad day…’
I just love Bella Osbourne books and this one is no exception it’s an amazing read and I just couldn’t put it down.
I would highly recommend reading this book as it’s just so heartwarming.
I would like to thank Avon and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
On first impressions, I found this book delightfully funny, and that impression remained throughout. The protagonist, Ros, made me smile, and I related to her a little bit. In general, I found the characters humorous, both their behaviour and the interactions between them.
The romantic element of the story was heartwarming, but I also loved the portrayals of friendship and family relationships. There were some humorous moments that made me giggle while I was reading, and some deeper moments that warmed my heart too.
If you're looking for a romantic read that will make you smile, this book is an ideal choice.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This book will give you all the feels. I'm sad I've finished it. Now I didn't particularly like Ros at first, I found her quite hard to relate to, but once you get to know her, a bit about her background and her gradual change throughout the book, she becomes very likeable. I love the friendship between Ros, Darlas and Cameron and Cameron was such a sweet man. Naturally, the star of this book was Gazza though. A feel good read with a bit of depth. Another winner by Bella Osbourne.
Ros and Darla have very different personalities, but their friendship is deep, and they support each other. Darla has an unexpected but workable suggestion when Ros needs a fake boyfriend. Believable characters, relatable situations, and many humorous, poignant, and romantic moments make this an engaging read. Darla is still paying for her poor choice of boyfriend, surviving homelessness by taking a series of pet-sitting and house-sitting roles. The latest one offers her stability for many months but not without a few surprises. I like the realistically flawed characters you invest in, the comic and romantic moments and the emotional ethos of the story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Another excellent book by Bella. It has an unusual storyline but nevertheless it is a joy to read. Great characters and Gazza the dog. The book has a lovely, bright cover which screams out 'read me', if I was browsing the shelves of a bookshop.
Yes! Bella Osborne at her best. Great setting. Great characters. Great story. Great romance! I can't wait for her next.
This follows the lives of two very different best friends Ros and Darla who are both trying really hard to please their parents. Ros' father has terminal cancer and he truly wants her in a relationship so he knows she's going to be ok. Darla gets her other friend Cameron to fake date Ros and they end up falling in love despite them being complete opposites. Darla is up to her eye balls in debt after her ex fleeced her so she flats sits and ends up looking after a small farm where she meets the grumpy, hunky farmer next door. They two end up together. All in all they both get their HEA's. A nice jaunt of a book with a few laughs along the way.
Totally loved this latest heart warming story from Bella Osborne about the trials of life with all the ups and downs for Ros and Darla in Southampton on the south coast of England.
Ros is a workaholic but is very close to her dad, who has recently been unwell with a life threatening condition, Ros is trying to fill his last weeks with care and love. Her best friend Darla juggles multiple day jobs and pet/house sitting in order to pay off debts left by her awful ex-boyfriend.
I loved all the highs and lows this book brings, the capers, adventures and more. At the heart is the true tale of love, friendship family and more! This brings warmth to the soul, a smile and is a hugely engaging and enjoyable read!
I know Southampton well, and recognised a lot of the places described, brilliant!!
Fabulous holiday read, highly recommended and totally loved!!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for the early read, loved it!!
I always look forward to reading a new book by this author and yet again I'm not disappointed. Ros is very logical, thinking everything through carefully, and struggles to make friends apart from Darla, who has somehow broken through her reserve. When Ros decides to get a fake boyfriend so that her father, who has a terminal illness, won't worry about her when he's gone. Enter Cameron, who is totally unlike Ros, who agrees to act a her boyfriend. I felt for Ros her struggles with relating to her colleagues at work and it was interesting seeing how her relationship with Cameron gradually changed her. Darla also had her own storyline, struggling to clear the debts left by her ex and was working three jobs to try to do this. With these two women's stories developing I really enjoyed this book, engrossed from the beginning to the end.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
The two main female characters Ros and Darla are completely different. Ros is very black and white in her thinking, which made her hard to relate to, but she has a good job and a lovely apartment and a wonderful dad. Darla's life is more of a mess, she's not honest with her parents about how big a mess it is, but she is a really lovely person and someone I could easily picture being friends with. Cameron, Darla's friend and Ros's fake boyfriend is such a lovely character. He just exudes sunshine and anytime he was around I wanted to smile. His effect on Ros making her more grey instead of black and white was also lovely. This story had some funny moments and some touching ones and was overall a heartwarming story to read.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
I enjoyed this book.
Ros and Darla are friends, but each is different from each other, Ros likes to think everything through before she agrees to anything. Whereas Darla has a bubbly personality.
Ros is employed in risk assessment, and Darla is working in three different jobs, her relationship ended and her ex left her with a lot of debt, which she’s now slowly paying off.
Both of them are happy as they are, but Ros begins a fake relationship with Cameron. Her Dad isn’t well, and she doesn’t want him to worry about her being left on her own.
It was lovely to read how Ros changes her thought process after Cameron comes into her life.
I recommend this book.