I loved this! It was such a great summer read it had so many good characters in it that I was really rooting for. The mix of romance and comedy was good. It did have me wondering where the story was going especially through the tv show part but it all came together so well and i absolutely loved the ending. I would actually love to read more from these characters and what escapades they have to face in the hotel.

Too Busy for Love by Phoebe MacLeod

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

For Beatrice, working at one of London’s boutique hotels is a dream come true. She doesn’t need a social life. She just needs an ordered diary, crisply folded sheets and happy guests. But Beatrice’s routine comes to an abrupt halt when her hotel is raided by the police. Suddenly she finds herself released on bail, and trapped in London, with only the hotel chef Jock for company.

Having decided to make the most of their situation, Beatrice lets her hair down – figuratively and literally – for the first time in her life. And incredibly, despite the threat of possible prison around the corner, she finds she loves every moment spent exploring London in Jock’s company.

But all bubbles have to burst, so when the pair are released without charge, it’s time for Beatrice to get her life, and her career, back on track. She can’t let a little thing called feelings get in her way… So why can’t she forget Jock, even when her career dreams look set to become reality?

Beatrice may like to keep life fully booked, but can you ever really be too busy for love?

My Opinion

Too Busy for Love was not what I was expecting but it was still an enjoyable read. Beatrice and Jock find themselves caught up in a police investigation and the pair find themselves forced to spend plenty of time together. Phoebe MacLeod has written a delightful book that was a relatively quick read. I have read a few books by Phoebe and I have enjoyed them all.

This book is definitely on that you just have to go along with. It is clear from the beginning that nothing is going to be easy for Beatrice, but I certainly had a fun time following her on her journey.

Rating 4/5

This was such a journey and I enjoyed it so much.
Beatrice and Jock both find themselves in custody after the hotel they worked in was raided, they are both released on bail pending further investigations. The curfew restricts them so they spend their daytimes exploring London and nighttime’s together ☺️
Once they are released without charge they go their separate ways, Beatrice back to her parents and Jock to Glasgow. Beatrice struggles to get a job but finally takes a role with a filming company, the show is set in Mallorca, Too Busy for Love.
She excels in her new role as with anything she seems to put her hand to. She misses Jock, occasionally reaching out but their messages seem hit and miss.
She befriends Abby one of the contestants, she talks about a hotel her father’s company were planning to redevelop, when planning get refused Beatrice finds herself being drawn to Margate to check it out.
Can her dreams of renovating a hotel come to fruition and can her hope of a future which include Jock come true.
I loved the pace of the book, it was jammed packed and kept my interest at all times.
Thank you NetGalley, Phoebe MacLeod and Boldwood Books for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This delightful romance follows Beatrice who works in a London Boutique Hotel, which is her dream job. However, her dreams are crushed as she is suddenly arrested for possible involvement in criminal activity in the hotel.

Released on bail along with her co-worker Jock, they decide to make the most of the London sites whilst on house arrest overnight. They start to get close but once they are cleared from any wrongdoing, they go their separate ways.

Struggling to get a new hotel position, Beatrice takes an unexpected job role, which leads to her finally having another shot at achieving her dream.

What lies in the future for Beatrice? Will Jock & Beatrice find their way back to each other?

This romance was a delightful read, with a few awkward and funny moments along the way. I found myself willing the characters to find their way back to each other and re-kindle their short-term relationship.

The storyline is also uplifting as Beatrice tries to find a way to escape the past, she had no control over and still achieve her dream.

There are a few other characters you get to meet along the way, which add even more to this lovely read.

Overall, a delightful romance where an unexpected arrest could lead to love and achieving a dream.

I thought this book was delightfully clever and original. It had all of the rom com feels that I love as well as a compelling plot.

The book starts off with Beatrice being detained because of shady business practices of her manager at a boutique hotel. The police are not convinced of Beatrice's innocence and insist she stay nearby and at the hotel (where she lived). The chef, Jock, is also asked to stay at the hotel while his story is being checked. Initially, Beatrice is very distraught, but Jock is very optimistic and the two decide to make the best of the situation. They go sight seeing and have meals together at the hotel. Eventually, they have a romantic connection. However, once they are both cleared and have to leave, they exchange numbers, but don't expect any further contact.

Beatrice finds a job on the set of a reality dating series, Too Busy For Love, and settles in.

Once the production starts, we are drawn into the show, but Beatrice is still front and center. Will she become too busy to think about Jock?

This book was a quick read and I found myself laughing at some of the scenes. This is very lighthearted, despite the heavy feel at the beginning of the book.

I thought the opening premise was funny. To discover the abode of one’s job was actually a front for a house of ill repute would be rather jarring.
It also lands starchy Beatrice in legal hot water with chef Jock. So they decide to squeeze the bowl of lemons their lives have become and knock around London together.
That was my favorite part of the book because both let their guards down and were enjoying the moment and letting the future take care of itself.
The reader has to work for the desirable ending because I wasn’t sure if what I wanted to occur would, but I knew the chef would concoct a recipe that Beatrice wouldn’t be able to resist.

Beatrice is working her dream job at a boutique hotel in London when it all comes crashing down. Beatrice, having to stay in London, spends the next week sightseeing with Jock the hotel chef and ultimately finds herself falling for him. Can they find a way for it to work and be together once they are back in the real world of work?

This is a quick read and has plenty of action to keep you entertained. The characters were all likeable however we did not spend as much time with Beatrice and Jock as I would have preferred.

Overall this was a fun and quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advanced copy.

Beatrice is the manager of a boutique hotel in London, and Jock is the hotel's chef. Both are arrested because of what they firmly hope is simply guilt by association. With time on their hands and orders from police to stay home at night, they spend their days sightseeing and getting to know one another until they're cleared of their charges and go their separate ways. The beginning of the book is the embodiment of "that escalated quickly," then the story gets a bit choppy and focuses more on Beatrice's plans to get her career back on track than it does on her relationship with Jock. Forced proximity trope, but only in the beginning of the book. It was described as "hilarious" and a romantic comedy, but the romance feels secondary and it's not an overtly funny or amusing book. The physical intimacy was clinical and vague in detail so I'd say this was pretty closed-door. I liked Jock well enough but his personality felt less developed than Beatrice's. He felt like an accessory to the story, which is always a risk when you have a single 1st-person POV like you have here. I had a hard time liking Beatrice, and having the main focus be on her meant I struggled in connecting with this book. However, I was invested enough that I finished the book.

This is a quick read with a solid premise but the overall flow of the book was inconsistent. Several sub-plots received more emphasis than it felt like they needed, with not enough energy and time spent on the romance in what is supposed to be a romantic comedy. A good book if you're looking for a story about a young woman and the ups and downs of developing her professional career who has some interesting things happen to her along the way, but ultimately not the book for me. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book, publishes 8-13-24.

This is one of the funny romcom I read this year. I enjoyed reading this book so much.

It's been a while since I wnjoyed readinb a romance book. Loved thw chaeactees and I loved fhat it was written beautifully.

I was really delighted to be granted an eARC of this novel. I have enjoyed all of Phoebes previous novels, and this one was no exception. The story of the characters was fun, exciting and engaging to read.

"Too Busy for Love" by Phoebe MacLeod is a delightful contemporary romance that explores the challenges of balancing a demanding career with personal happiness. The story follows a protagonist who, despite her professional success, struggles to find time for love. MacLeod’s writing is engaging and filled with wit, creating a relatable and charming narrative. The novel deftly mixes humor with genuine emotional moments, making it an enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates romance with a modern twist and a focus on self-discovery.

First of all: I feel like this book is being mismarketed. It says it's a forced proximity romance, but there is barely either of those present in the story. The beginning was very promising but it went downhill from there.

The author was trying to do too much. I felt like it was 3 books crammed into one. The lockdown int he hotel, the tv show, the opening of a new hotel. This is probably why the side characters got more character building than the love interest, who was barely mentioned and I felt like there was no spark except for maybe the first few chapters during the "forced proximity". The main female character truly was "too busy for love" with all those different plot lines.

Besides that, I felt like a lot of the story was telling, not showing. An example, someone asks "what makes you say that" and then it continues with a vague quick summary of everything we already know. I get that is why she has to do it, but it didn't make the story very readable. I also would've liked some more atmosphere descriptions. Why did she fell in love with that city/neighbourhood/hotel? Show, don't tell!

I feel like if the author had focused on just one of the three story lines in the book it could have been better.

Thank you to NetGally and Boldwood Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and The Publisher for an advanced e-copy of Too Busy for Love, in exchange for an honest review.

'Too Busy for Love' follows Beatrice, a hotel manager whose life takes an unexpected turn after her boss's arrest. Amidst the turmoil, she finds solace in the company of the hotel's chef, Jock.

The book opens with a promising premise as we witness the budding romance between Beatrice and Jock. Their shared adventures in tourist spots create a heartwarming atmosphere. However, the story abruptly shifts as they go their separate ways.

Beatrice's subsequent journey becomes a series of disjointed episodes. She briefly works on a reality show, then embarks on a project to restore an abandoned hotel. While these experiences highlight her resilience, they lack the emotional depth and connection necessary for a compelling romance fiction.

The absence of Jock's perspective is a significant flaw. As the reader, we're left wondering about his feelings and how the separation has affected him. This missing element diminishes the potential for a satisfying love story.

'Too Busy for Love' fails to deliver on its promise as a romance fiction. While Beatrice's journey is admirable, the disjointed plot and lack of a dual perspective make it difficult to fully engage with the characters or the love story. The novel may appeal to readers interested in a tale of resilience and self-discovery, but those seeking a heartwarming romance will likely be disappointed.
3.75 Stars

I struggled a lot with this book.... It was boring, I had a hard time keeping up with the story, the characters didn't keep my interest up at all. It was just naaahhh for me...

The Dufour hotel is raided by police and Beatrice is now in a holding cell on her 29th bday. She was arrested for assessors to prostitution in the hotel. After her and Jock are released on bail, they have a set of rules to follow by police. As tension and nerves arise, Jock and Beatrice start to get closer and see each other in new ways.

The beginning half was very intriguing, but as the book progressed I wasn't as locked into the read. Personally I think a lot of the plot took away from the love interests. The ending felt a little lengthy with not a lot of action.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first by this author, and I really enjoyed it. Jock and Beatrice were great characters, who grew as the story progressed. The actual story was pretty original, very entertaining and kept my interest.

I fell for Beatrice's romanticised dream of the Mermaid Hotel, almost to the point where I wanted to go lend a hand!

It was lighthearted, warming, and good for my soul, and I'll definitely be looking out for her others.

I had high hopes for this book. I really did but unfortunately I couldn't get into it. I really was thrown off with how long it took to get to the romance part that I forgot what the beginning part was about. There were too much details that I felt the author was hyper-fixiated on that was unnecessary. I really felt like the beginning of the story was starting off pretty great so the rest of the book just threw me off.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Too Busy for Love By Phoebe MacLeod
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up to 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

Oh my goodness, this book was SO CUTE!! 🥰

Told from the perspective of our female main character, Beatrice, this story was so much more than just a forced proximity rom-com about the unexpected romantic connection between Beatrice and Jock.

Though the first part of the book was all about their connection - created out of a truly unfortunate experience - the majority of the story focused less on the relationship of Beatrice & Jock and more on the hilarious ups-and-downs of Beatrice's career. Don't get me wrong, there was still plenty of the meet-cute love story you want to see. But there was also so much more to the plotline of this book!

The whole cast of supporting characters here were fantastic! Even Beatrice's parents, who are pretty cringey in their concerns about their reputation, added to my enjoyment of the book. Honestly, I kinda wanted to hang out with everyone and be a part of the magic and fun that seemed to be waiting around every corner for Beatrice on her journey to create the life of her dreams.

This book was not what I expected from a rom-com read, and I think that made it even better for me. It was a fast read that entertained me and made me smile -- I even laughed out loud at times. And the ending gave me all the happily-ever-after vibes I was hoping for!

If you're looking for a fun rom-com that's got a little more moxie to it, this book is for you. If you want to read a rom-com with a little less "rom" and a little more "com," I highly recommend you give this one a read.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. Be sure you add this rom-com to your TBR list and get yourself a copy when it's published on August 13th!!

#TooBusyForLove #PhoebeMacLeod #NetGalley #ARC #boldwoodbookclub #boldwoodbookVIP #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #romcomreads #romcoms #booklover #booknerd #bookcommunity

I was 25% into this book and all I could think of was the meme where it goes "We are happy and in love right, we are happy and in love... what is this!!!". This is the first Phoebe MacLeod book that I did not enjoy like where was the romance for a large portion of the book and also the plot did not flow well. Honestly, some of the characters annoyed me and the couple we are routing for don't even seem interesting in pursuing a relationship with one another.

Too Busy For Love is a romance novel by Phoebe MacLeod.
This was an easy read. The story was easy to follow, though a bit slow in places. Once I got past these parts I enjoyed it more. The characters felt a little bland too. An ok read that other readers might like.
💝 Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.