Beautifully written as usual, I enjoy the way Helen writes and how she brings her characters to life, I was hooked from start to finish. Thank you.

This was a very entertaining book but not what I was expecting. I wanted more on the romance and less on all the other characters and issues that were covered in the story.

Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book 2 in the Skylark series. Although it stands alone, I read them in order and will read book 3 when its out. Neither book ends in a cliffhanger.

Little bit of romance, with ups and downs, emotional and depressing but still good book. Didn't regret reading it.

Bess a paramedic, Gio a firefighter have been friends along time. But when life happens and it starts to fall apart, they put up walls around their hearts....continue reading to find out if love wins or heartache.

It's time to take to the air again with Written in the Stars, the second book in Rolfe's Skylarks series. If you're unfamiliar with the Skylarks they are the Whistlestop River Air Ambulance team.

As with all of Rolfe's books it's written in her inimitable style and is heartwarming from beginning to end. It's filled with friendship, family and before I forget...a dishy firefighter in the shape of Gio...and the burgeoning romance between him and Bess.

The characters are all wonderful as always. Our catch up was long overdue! Told from the POV of both Bess and Gio, Rolfe delights with another gorgeous addition to the series.

Highly enjoyable and an absolute delight to read.

Thank you #netgalley and Helen Rofle for the opportunity to read this book.

Absolute swoon over Gio!
Reading about his traumatic childhood was sad, but reading how much of a kind human being he developed into as an adult was heart warming. He is a kind, gentle soul who has the potential to shower the right person with so much love. Is he capable of love and forgiveness?

Bess, oh Bess Bess Bess. What a beautiful woman with everyday issues that are very common in this current economy. She has such a big heart and I can understand the mess she got herself in to.

I really enjoyed this book. I really love how Helen addressesd the complexities of life and how the characters addressed them and grew from them. It wasn't just a love story, it was about friends, family, forgiveness and most of all growth.

Bess is a paramedic, but not just any paramedic, Bess is a critical care paramedic with the Air Ambulance. A 40 year old with a habit most people have experienced. She is living to work to help get herself out of a shit situation. Gio is Bess' oldest friend and a fire fighter. An accident happens that opens up both their eyes and vulnerability. Read as they navigate through their issues together and on their own.

Trust me, it is so worth it in the end.

Had not realised that this is the second book in the Skylark series, so I hadn't encountered the characters before. But that didn't make a difference, as though are so easy to get to know and the tale is so well told. I found the medical details very professional and well described. Am looking forward to hopefully another tale in this series soon

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The next in the Skylarks series we meet Bess, a critical care paramedic, and Gio, a dedicated firefighter. Bess’s motto of living each day to the fullest is starting to catch up with her as her carefree choices lead to mounting debts, while Gio’s life is shaken by the unexpected return of his estranged mother and a career-threatening accident. Despite the challenges they face on the job, a spark of connection between them offers hope for a new beginning. As snow starts to fall over Whistlestop River, Bess and Gio must decide if they’re ready to trust each other with more than just saving lives.

Second book in the skylark series, slightly more depressing than the first but an enjoyable book. Two broken people hoping to fix each other. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

What a lovely read This was the second book in this series and it doesn't disappoint it has all the characters from the first novel but this one features Bess and Gio who are both struggling with different issues and have been friends for years but their relationship starts to change after Gio is involved in an accident while attending a fire. It's great comaradary among the teams in the Air ambulance and such an inspirational story it makes this a great read bring on the next one.5 ⭐again from me

Paramedic Bess had her life turned upside down by the sudden death of her father, followed by a health scare of her own, and she so wishes he was still around to help her with the mess she’s in – her emotional spending has become totally out of control, the final demands are arriving, she might even lose her home, and she can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

At work, her sunshine personality brightens everyone’s days however difficult they might be – and she particularly enjoys it when her path crosses that of Gio, the fireman, who’s often at the same calls and there’s always been a bit of a spark between them. But he has his own issues too, when his mother Marianne turns up – her drinking meant he had a very difficult childhood, and he’s not entirely convinced that things have changed. And things only get many times worse for him when he’s involved in an accident – with a real possibility that he might never be fit enough to do his job again, so the future’s looking particularly bleak.

Their lives become entangled when Bess decides to take in a lodger – his mother – to help her financial situation, and her friendship with Gio might just become something more as they help each other heal. But she’s shaken once more when she finds her mother has started to move on from her loss, with a new partner – who she’s determined to compare unfavourably with her dad, but, in time, might have good reason to change her mind.

This was a really lovely emotional read – two damaged people finding strength through each other – with quite a few difficult issues so sensitively handled. And I was just as invested in Marianne’s story – her difficult journey to turning her life around, and hopefully reuniting with her family despite all the past hurt. In fact, I loved the whole way the different family issues were dealt with – when Bess finally shares her problems with her mum, her offer of help (welcome, but nowhere near enough) really touched me to the heart. And the book’s emotional depth is all the greater because it’s Christmas, that time of year when everything should be festive and bright – a time for family, and having fun in the recently fallen snow. And there is a good measure of joy and laughter, as Bess and Gio begin to grow closer – a slow burn romance I really enjoyed – and the future begins to look a little brighter for everyone.

I really must mention Bess’s work with the Skylarks, responding to emergencies in the air ambulance, dealing calmly and efficiently with so many difficult calls – well researched, dramatic at times, and very real. And I enjoyed the relationships between the crew – it would have been nice to have known their back story from the first book in the series, but I had no problems at all picking up this book as a standalone. I’ll certainly be looking forward to the next in the series – this was a book I very much enjoyed.

Bess is a critical care paramedic who has recently lost her father. With that loss, she is trying to live every day as if it is her last; however she has put herself in a position where her risks have outed what she has and now she has to read the consequences of what she has sewed.

Gio is extremely proud of the work he does. He’s a firefighter. Gio‘s world gets turned for a loop when his estranged alcoholic mother shows up on his doorstep.

Written in the Stars was not quite the romance I expected, but it was a good story. Two people that are dealing with things that are changing their lives and the consequences that come with it. Bess and Gio have a friendship that they both rely on. They each have to work out their own issues and in doing that they have found that their friendship contains something more. The story was a slow burn. It was a little short on romance, but it did have good character development and was an entertaining story.

While a tad depressing, I enjoyed the medical aspects a lot. The relationship also grew on me, but the side family stories less so

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. This story will really test your emotions, likeable characters, delicate topics dealt with real sensitivity and tact. This book is quite impactful, debt and money issues, loss and grief, alcohol and accidents, friendships and loyalty but most of all its a well written heartwarming story.

What a gorgeous, sensitively told story! Bess is still reeling from the untimely death of her beloved father. In mourning, she has become completely bonded to her mother but has taken the option not to become entangled in a relationship, as they can lead to real heartache. Assuming that her mother feels the same, she’s contented to deal with the ‘what-ifs’ that come her way as she pursues her single life.
I adored Bess, although I felt frustrated with how she overlooked the impact of unrestrained spending, choosing to ignore the mounting letters and bills arriving in her letterbox. Many of us may have done a similar thing, but we’ve all learned what a dangerous path it is to follow. Although flawed, Her approach to life leads her to believe she’s untouchable. All she needs to do is protect her heart from the serial dater and best friend, Gio.
Gio is convinced that there could be a future for him with Bess, but he knows that he needs to let her see that he’s not the commitment-phobic lothario that she sees him as. He’s loyal to his family, although his relationship with his mother is complicated by her reliance on alcohol. A devastating accident sees him battling with his demons and questioning the choices that he’s made.
This story has ups and downs, and I found it to be an emotional read. Having experienced a parental alcohol user, it was a little close to home, yet cathartic to remind myself that their choices had little to do with me. Gio has a heart of gold and is set on showing Bess that he’s not the guy she perceives him to be.
The characters are presented with a gentle hand, and I found them to be warm and engaging. The storylines were painfully relatable but brought a realism to the story that made it more believable.
Catching up with the team we met in book one was lovely, and I’m already excited to see what the next book may hold. You can read this as a standalone as long as you promise to go back and read Come Fly with Me later.

Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe

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

Blurb

A hidden secret

Live every day as if it were your last – that’s the motto Bess has lived by since her father died unexpectedly. As a critical care paramedic, Bess sees every day just how easily life can be taken away. But carefree living has risks, and as Bess’s debts mount, she discovers her actions could have terrible consequences…

An unexpected arrival

Nothing gives Gio more joy than his work saving lives in the fire service. And on the days when his call-outs put him in the path of the air ambulance, and one paramedic in particular, things are pretty perfect. Until Gio’s world is spun on its head, first by the arrival of his estranged mother on his doorstep, and then by an accident that could put his career on hold indefinitely.

A new beginning?

Gio and Bess have always worked well together, but could they be the solution to each other’s problems beyond the frontline as well? And will they let their guard down enough to give each other a chance before snow falls over Whistlestop River?

My Opinion

Written in the Stars is the second book in The Skylarks series and whilst it can be read as a standalone I would recommend reading the books in order for maximum enjoyment.

I have to say that I am really enjoying reading this series. Written in the Stars is a book that I finished in one sitting. Bess is in need of help, she is in a terrible financial situation but doesn't feel like she can talk to anyone. Helen Rolfe has handled difficult situations in such a delicate manner.

Have you joined The Skylarks? You will not be disappointed.

Rating 4/5

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

This wonderful romance follows Bess, an air ambulance paramedic and Gio a fire fighter. They used to live together in a house share and are now close friends.

Bess is drowning in debt after living life to the full after her father’s sudden death, she doesn’t know how she can get out of the mess she is in and decides she must confide in others to advise.

Gio loves his job, but with an accident threating the future of his career and the added family drama of the sudden appearance of his mother, he must find a way to keep positive.

Will Bess and Gio become more than friends? Will they solve the issues in their lives?

This romance is a wonderful read and shows how some important issues can affect peoples lives but how having the support around you can help in many situations.

You get to hear from both main characters throughout, which adds to the build up of the ‘will they, won’t they’ as they develop their relationship.

It is lovely to read about Bess & Gio’s families too and adds extra storylines entwining with the main plot, along with a little humour,

Overall, a wonderful romance where two friends find themselves in difficult situations.

Last year I read the first book in the Skylark's series which features a helicopter emergency response crew, and I loved seeing the characters at work. I was therefore always going to read the follow up book. I can also tell you now that I will be continuing to read this series while it lasts!

Bess is a paramedic on an emergency response helicopter crew. It is a high pressure job where you see people at critical moments in their lives. She had a very close relationship with her father, who always was saving for the future. It was a future that never came as he passed away unexpectedly. Ever since that day Bess has been living for the moment, buying whatever she wants, going on holidays, topping out her credit cards. After all, what's the point of saving for the future. However, that recklessness is catching up with her and Bess is really struggling financially, just barely keeping her cottage. She is also shocked to find out that her mother has found a new friend, which also brings up some issues for Bess.

Gio is a fireman who Bess has been friends with for years. There has never been anything more than friendship between them, which is probably a good thing seeing as Gio doesn't have a great track record with the ladies. Gio has his own demons, specifically in relation to his alcoholic mother, so when she turns up unexpectedly on his front doorstep he is pretty annoyed, but he can't turn her away.

When Gio is injured in a workplace accident he has to deal with the possibility that he may never be able to return to the job he loves, and dealing with his mother, which is a lot, given how much damage has been done to their relationship over the years.

Maybe, just maybe, they can help each other.

If I had to pick a trope for this story it would be friends to lovers. Literally. There was a bit of angst of should we, shouldn't we and then they did. There wasn't much where you could see the dynamics changing. Of course, they were supportive of what each other were going through, and there was a gradual realisation that there had always been something there.

There was a surprising amount of Christmas in this book. For Gio, this hasn't always been a great time of year, particularly as it so often led to disappointment, but there were some moment of pure Christmas joy. Some of those were very simple - the joy of a sparkler, the pleasure of cooking a meal for your family.

The build up to the romance could have been stronger but overall it was still a fine book to read, where the work that the characters do continues to be a highlight.


I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with British Isles Friday hosted at Joy's Book Blog. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

I just loved this book from the start and I couldn’t put it down it was just so good. I loved the story and the characters are just amazing as well and it’s a truly wonderful book.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a good story with amazing characters that is so heartwarming.

I would like to see thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Bess and Gio has been friends for a long time. Are they ready to become more with everything that is going on on their lives right now? He with his family problems and his accident and her with her financial struggles after her father died. But their love is written in the stars. Sweet and very real.