The medical setting and contemporary issues explored in this story are well-researched and give it an authenticity. Bess is a critical care paramedic with the air ambulance and is used to working in a life-saving capacity. Still grieving the sudden loss of her father, she has assuaged her grief through work and spending money, resulting in debts. Gio, a firefighter, is trying to support his estranged mother with her addiction. Both use work to escape their personal lives. I like the believably flawed protagonists and the emotions they experience when facing real problems. Their romantic connection is not new but realistically develops as they confide in each other. Whilst this isn't a lighthearted festive read, it is contemporarily relevant, and you care about the characters and what happens in their lives.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I enjoyed reading Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

The second one in this interesting series. I enjoyed this mostly but, at times found it a little depressing. It didn't have the same vibes as the first one. Hopefully the next one will be more cheerful. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

In the second Skylarks book we focus on paramedic Bess who has been struggling since the unexpected death of her father. Too cope with her grief she has been spending money beyond her means resulting in a struggle. Gio who is also a first responder but not a paramedic instead he is a fireman also is having struggles within his family in the form of his mother who is a alcoholic. Bess and Gio have great chemistry but will they expect each others hearts? This book is another winner of a thrilling addition to the series and with drama plotted against romance. It's quite exciting and gets the heart racing. I love all the characters and truly appreciate and admire what they do. It's more than just a profession for them and it shines. I enjoyed experiencing the world of flight paramedic and I am already looking forward to reading more!

Book Review: Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe

From the moment I picked up Written in the Stars, I was swept away into the vibrant world of Whistlestop River. Helen Rolfe has crafted a compelling narrative that balances heartwarming romance with the real-life challenges faced by her characters, and I couldn't put it down.

Bess, a critical care paramedic, lives by the motto to “live every day as if it were your last.” This philosophy resonates deeply, especially after the sudden loss of her father. I found her character relatable and inspiring, navigating the pressures of her job while dealing with mounting personal debts. Her journey of self-discovery and resilience kept me rooting for her.

Gio, on the other hand, is equally captivating. As a firefighter, his dedication to saving lives mirrors Bess's, and their chemistry is undeniable. I enjoyed their dynamic, especially as they faced not only external challenges but also their own emotional barriers. The arrival of Gio's estranged mother added depth to his character, providing a subplot that made his journey even more compelling.

The storyline masterfully intertwines their professional lives with personal struggles, showcasing the intense pressures of working in emergency services. I appreciated how Rolfe incorporated elements of medical drama without sacrificing the warmth of the romance. The setting—complete with snow and the festive atmosphere—felt like a character in itself, enriching the story.

What truly stood out to me was the theme of second chances. Bess and Gio’s connection evolves beautifully, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to see if they would allow themselves the opportunity to love again.

Overall, Written in the Stars is a delightful addition to the Skylarks series. It’s a cozy yet poignant read that left me with a smile on my face and a longing for more. I can't wait to see where Rolfe takes these characters next!

Such a fantastic read I loved all the characters especially bess and gio and hoped they would get together. I loved how malcom wanted to help her even though he didn't know her that well. And gios mum was really trying to change and be the parent he really needed a lovely story.

Bess and Gio have been friends for about twenty years. While Bess is a Critical care paramedic, Gio is a firefighter. Bess is looking for a committed relationship while Gio doesn’t do long term. One incident causes both of them to re-evaluate their feelings for each other.

Besides the romance, most of the book actually focuses on the parental relationship between Bess and her mom, and between Gio and his mom. Bess is trying to accept that her mom has started dating again, three years after her father’s death. For Gio, his mom has always had a drinking problem but she seems to have sobered up recently with plans to reconcile with him and his brother.

Overall, the book was ok but I didn’t really feel the pull between Bess and Gio. It would have been better to have more flashbacks of how close they were in the past twenty years, to finally bring them to this conclusion.

I feel like this was mislabelled as a romance novel as there wasnt a lot of romance in my opinion which I dont mind but together with the writing just being super descriptive it was not for me but I feel like it would be for others.

A nice cosy read, I love a friends to lovers romance.

Some very heavy issues discussed and dealt with sensitively, debt, alcoholism, injury and mental health. Gio’s back story was very heart wrenching, but I loved how how he tried very hard to psych his relationship with his mum. Bess has a lot to deal with, and it was interesting to see her pull her mask on and go to work. It’s a true reflection of how you never really know what’s really going on with someone unless they choose to let you in.

Some amazing descriptions about rescues and the services offered, a lot of research clearly went into it. Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. A good winter holiday read.

Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe

This is the second book in The Skylarks series from Helen Rolfe. Books in this series follow the lives of the crew of the air ambulance service based in the fictional Dorset town of Whistlestop River. Although there are characters common to both books, each can be read as a standalone.

This story focuses on Bess, critical care paramedic with the air ambulance crew, and her friend Gio, a local firefighter. Since the tragic death of her father, Bess has dealt with her grief by splashing out on luxuries and holidays. Now she is deep in debt and it’s spiralling out of control. Gio also has troubles, but of the family kind. His estranged alcoholic mother has turned up on his doorstep claiming that she’s ready to make a fresh start, but can he believe her, after all he’s heard it all before. On top of that, he’s badly injured in the line of duty and is worried that his injury may end the career he loves. Bess and Gio have known each other for a long time, but suddenly realise how close they have become. Should they risk their friendship by taking their relationship further?

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first in the series, once again it was full of friendship and love. It was fascinating learning more about the air ambulance service and how it works. It was also good to meet the crew members, ground staff and their families again. Both Bess and Gio are dedicated to their jobs and both have troubles that are sadly not uncommon. It was lovely to see how their families and friends rallied around to help. I especially loved the relationship between Bess and her mother. They were more like sisters than parent and child. I wasn’t too sure about Gio’s mother, but she grew on me. I’m hoping that there will be more books in this series as there are lots of other characters to explore.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

2nd book in the series

In this second Skylark's book, the reader is focused on Bess and Gio's stories. In the past, these two have been great friends but nothing more. They've both got tons of baggage from their past relationships as well as their families, and while they have pursued relationships with others, haven't considered each other to be marriage material.

While I felt Bess was immature in the way she handled her finances, I applaud the way that she became self-aware and took steps to clean up her act. Gio was also a bit pouty after his accident, but he also found ways to deal with his disappointment. This was a very slow burn romance, in fact, the romantic part was only a tiny portion starting around 90%. I enjoyed the book for the most part and am looking forward to the next Skylark story.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe is an absolute gem of a book! I was swept away by the heartwarming, romantic story, and I can honestly say I had so many emotions throughout the entire read—and every one of them was positive. Rolfe’s writing is filled with warmth, charm, and characters that feel so real, they quickly find a place in your heart. From beginning to end, this book delivers a fantastic experience, making it a must-read for 2024. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of love and connection, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Written in the Stars is a heartfelt story about Bess and Gio. They have been friends for a long time…starting out with being roommates when they first met. There may have been a little chemistry felt then but it didn’t go anywhere.
Each one struggles with their own issues. Bess has gotten herself into financial troubles while Gil unwillingly has to take on his mother’s alcoholism struggles.
I do wish there had been a bit more to their relationship. I think this could easily have been a 5 star read for me with more of a romance aspect.
Overall, a nice, engaging read that I did enjoy reading

An engaging and enjoyable story about friends to lovers. Gio and Bess have been friends for a long time but only friends. He is a not going to settle down type of guy. She lives her life for the now since her father died. They have always considered themselves only as friends but something is changing between them. Will it cause them to lose everything or bring happiness?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book was not what I was expecting. It is promoted as a “heartwarming, romantic” book, so I was expecting a holiday romance. The romance however is definitely a secondary feature of this book. The story deals with the interesting topics of parental alcoholism, death of a parent, grief, retail therapy, debt and dealing with an injury. Bess and Gio have interesting jobs. She is an emergency helicopter paramedic and he is a firefighter. There are some exciting scenes when they are on duty and providing emergency care.

However, the fact that Bess and Gio are barely together for most of the book was very disappointing since I was expecting a romance. They don’t go on any dates and finally decide to try dating 90% into the story. They hold hands at 91% and finally kiss at 94%, but then talk about moving in together and starting to try having babies at 96%. It seemed very crammed in at the end like an afterthought.

I may have enjoyed this book more had I not been anticipating a romance, and I did enjoy the topics covered and the scenes while they were on the job, but overall with the little amount of romance this book wasn’t for me. I would rate it 2.5 stars

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

After her father passed away, when she wasn’t expecting him to, she’s lived her life like it was her last day.

But, the job she does, which is as an air paramedic doesn’t exactly pay that kind of money to live that life. Now, she’s in trouble financially.

Gio, a firefighter has put a lot of effort into the life he now lives, he didn’t have a really good childhood.

But, one day his mother turns up and he now has to face up to everything he’s tried to forget.

The story was well written with relatable characters.

I highly recommend this book.

Bess, a critical care paramedic with the Skylarks air ambulance service, has struggled since the death of her father and is now trying to deal with growing debts . She has been friends with Gio, a fireman, for years and they often meet up when they both attend incidents. Can they move on from being just good friends?
As with the previous book in the series, Come Fly With Me, I regularly watch fly on the wall documentaries about the air ambulance services and enjoy these books set with this as the backdrop. I felt for Gio's mother, struggling with alcoholism, and the way that this affected her relationship with her sons plus Bess' mother trying to move on after the death of her husband. There is the will they won't they potential romance between Bess and Gio plus updates on others from the previous book. Overall a book that I enjoyed reading.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

“ Written in the Stars” by Helen Rolfe. What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. The setting of Whistlestop River, in Dorset sounds perfect, and I could picture the fields and the breathtaking coastline each time the emt helicopter took to the skies It had everything you could want in a story friendship, community and love.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. It’s a great follow up to book one
Come Fly With Me, and I can’t wait to pick up the authors next book!

I will definitely read other books by this author.


I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Boldwood Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to thank NetGalley for this arc unfortunately I did not love this.
1. I am an American hems dispatcher and I really did not like some of the inaccuracies of the UK vs US protocols. Personally it took me out of the story.
2. This read like we were in paw patrol. There was way too much textbook like information being given about the industry that was not needed at all. It was overkill the reader does not need to know about the blood exchange protocol for the company.
3. No romance. Well there was but consider this women’s fiction and not romance. No spice at all.
Overall super bummed but I think it was way too hard to read about my industry in such a weird way