Patricia Evans’ *London* is a poignant tale of rekindled love, second chances, and the courage to challenge societal expectations. The novel introduces Bronwyn Charles, a woman who seemingly has it all but finds her meticulously curated life thrown into turmoil after a chance reunion with Jaq Bailey, her first love. Evans crafts Bronwyn’s journey with sensitivity, revealing the cracks beneath her picture-perfect world as she grapples with her heart’s true desires. The contrast between Bronwyn’s privileged upbringing and Jaq’s humble beginnings adds depth and tension to the story, creating a rich backdrop for their rediscovered connection.

As the narrative unfolds, buried secrets come to light, and the suspense intensifies, propelling the story beyond a simple romance. Dangerous revelations about Bronwyn’s life and the forces that tore her and Jaq apart years ago add a gripping layer of intrigue. Evans masterfully balances the deep emotional pull of their love story with the suspense of uncovering truths, creating a page-turner that keeps readers hooked until the end. This blend of romance and mystery makes *London* a richly layered tale, leaving readers satisfied.

Things I loved
Reunited lovers
pro-LGBTQ images and actions
Lack of bias toward LGBTQ characters

Things that kept it from 5 stars
Predictable ending
Uneven storyline with Ian and the cocaine

Will definitely recommend!

A very enjoyable story form the start to end. The main characters chemistry was out of this world. The story ended just as I predicted.


Thanks to the Publisher Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.

This was a really good book! This was an enjoyable story from beginning to the end. The main characters were fun to get to know and I loved everything about them. The chemistry between them was off the charts, and they worked so well together. This story just flowed and kept my interest from beginning to the end. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Jaq Bailey attends a classmate's wedding, only to run into her ex Bronwyn Charles. Separated by B's rich family Jaq was never able to forget her.

On the surface Bronwyn has a perfect life, but meeting Jaq again makes her start to question that. Plus developing suspensions about her fiance, Ian. We quickly learn Ian is a bit of a controlling jerk., too

Pet peeve: The flashbacks aren't clearly labeled, and a few times were confusing.

Ian, unsurprisingly, is a crook. I expected that once we knew Jaq worked as a cop.

Resolution was a bit predictable, but overall a good book. 3 out of 5 stars.

Bronwyn Charles had everything she’d always wanted: a handsome fiancée, the career in fine arts that she adored, and an enviable home in Notting Hill, London. Everything was perfect until she ran into Jaq Bailey, her first love, during a classmate’s wedding in the English countryside. Suddenly, her carefully constructed life started to seem like it belonged to someone else, and she’s forced to decide whether she’s brave enough to let herself remember how it felt to be truly loved.

Jaq Bailey, a mathematics savant from a rundown trailer park in east Texas, attended Stratford Academy in London on a scholarship and fell in love with Bronwyn the moment they met. Despite being forced apart by Bronwyn’s wealthy family when their romance was discovered, Jaq never forgot her. After the wedding, their lives become entwined again as dangerous secrets emerge and Bronwyn’s seemingly perfect life starts to unravel.

This book was brilliant. I love the characters and their chemistry. I don't normally gravitate toward second-chance romances, but this one was excellent! You know when you get older, you realize that certain things are important (and others aren't, so much). This is that story. These two together are on fire. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

A really engaging read which starts with a wedding, lovers torn apart and then reunited or possibly not! A sometimes violent fiancé, money laundering, drugs, a domineering parent and lots of ‘hot’ sex scenes.Well written with great characters.
I read this in just over a day as it drew me in and kept me turning the pages due to the great storylines intertwined within it.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC - this is my honest review.

A good solid read with an element of mystery in the form of intrigue surrounding MC Bronwyn's fiance. Bronwyn, engaged and set to marry a man who is increasingly controlling her life, is reunited with her teenage love Jaq. As happens, it doesn't take too long for Bronwyn and Jaq to fall into bed and both cannot deny the irresistible chemistry that proves they should be together.

As Bronwyn sets about to sort out her personal life by confronting the man and his abuse, which is both emotional and physical in nature, and decide if she and Jaq have a future together, a series of dramas arise proving the controlling fiance is not the man he seems to be. Jaq becomes professionally involved in the dramas and together they work through to unravel the veneer of a man who is definitely not what he seems.

Although well written and defined, I found both MC's Bronwyn and Jaq to be predictable. From the minute they were reunited it was obvious what was going to happen. Nevertheless, the intrigue was well written and although you knew instantly how it would end, the unfolding of events held a good level of suspense.

There is infidelity and male emotional and physical abuse of a woman so if that's a trigger I'd recommend careful consideration before reading. Otherwise you'll enjoy the story and the steamy relationship between Bronwyn and Jaq

This is a second chance story with an element of danger and a lot of spice. I mean a lot.

Shy Bronwyn (what a wonderful, quintessentially British name) and bad boi met at a posh London school and when discovered as lovers were separated by Bronwyn‘s mother. By chance they meet again - shortly before Bronwyn is going to marry Ian according to her mother‘s wishes. That is the start of a highly erotic affair - very enjoyable with a great butch/femme dynamic. When it turns out that Ian has more to him than just being a successful investment banker, an element of danger is added - only heightening the butch/femme theme. This part of the story and Bronwyn‘s family dynamic might have deserved more attention and loving care. To sum it up: An enjoyable erotic read with Jaq as the butch protector.

I receive an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jaq Bailey and Bronwen Charles met when at school. Jaq was a gifted American 'saved' from an abusive childhood by a scholarship to the prestigious school had a relationship with Bronwen which ended when her mother removed her from school after finding her with Jaq. They meet again when they both attend a wedding of a an old friend.
Sounds like a typical second chance romance - until you know that Jaq is a DS at Scotland Yard now and Bronwen's abusive fiancé is now a suspect in their latest investigation.
Cue drama, lust, a glimpse into Bronwen's relationship and coercive control, all leading to a HEA.
It's very entertaining, I could have read it in one sitting.
There is a lot of research that has gone into this book - drugs, maths, cooking, dance and the police.
I loved the story. It was not quite a detective story, yet more than a romance.
It is difficult to know who the real hero of the story is. It looks like it might be Jaq, but then again what about Bronwen's father?
Money really does smooth things out in life.

The lead up to and in the bath scene at the end is actually really sweet.
I would read this again.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

its spicy and deals with a few issues that need a bit of warning for triggers but on the whole its a great read.... you end up hoping the good guys win...

a college romance between bronwyn and jaq that ended badly though not because of them but others so when these two bump onto each other at a pub no less things start to get interesting between them, could they get together once and for all...

but will history repeat itself as danger engulfs them as the danger is closer than you think

its an interesting read did i say spice because this has it all... and everyone needs a jaq in their lives

cant wait to read the next book by this author.... fast becoming one of my favourite authors

Good story with interesting, relatable characters. The author also added a subplot of mystery, which I don't think was necessary. The story though, felt a bit rushed. There were several things that were thrown in - maybe for dramatic purposes - but they nevertheless should have been dug into a bit more than they were.

Overall, a nice quick read.

I have read a few books by Patricia Evans and have enjoyed them all, this one especially.
The two main chararacters were lovers in school and got seperated only to find each other years later.
A lovely 2nd chance novel with characters who are very likeable. Thank you for advanced copy.

My first, but will not be my last book, by Patricia Evans was an excellent read. The second chance lovers were well done, falling into instant, blazing chemistry. This has butch/androgynous characters. I loved the MCs relationship. I loved how quickly they were able to patch up their relationship and wasn't brought back up endlessly.
The secondary characters were well developed. They were supportive and necessary.
I enjoyed this book and was able to read within a day. Some of the scenes were pure fire. I enjoyed the different emotions that were brought forth. I look forward to more books in the future.

Let me start by saying I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, so I couldn't have been more excited when I saw this book. I'm only sad I didn't know about it's first print in 2018.

So if you're like me and you’re into second-chance love stories, London by Patricia Evans is a total treat. Evans really captures that “what if?” magic of reconnecting with an old flame. This book is everything you’d want in a reunion romance—there’s passion, history, and plenty of drama, all wrapped up in a beautifully written story that’ll keep you turning pages.

What I loved most is how Evans dives into the emotional rollercoaster of picking up where you left off with someone who once meant the world to you. It’s intense, exciting, and honestly, pretty heartwarming. If you’re a sucker for romances that explore rekindled love and the thrill of second chances, London is the perfect read.

Big thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley.

Is there a second chance at love? Forced apart by prejudice during their high school years, Jaq and Bronwyn get a second chance at romance when they get thrown together for an ex-classmate wedding. While misunderstandings from the past are cleared up and Bronwyn's mother no longer holds the same power over her, complications from the present (meaning a controlling fiance) might still keep them in their separate ways.

While the beginning seemed a bit rushed and the two main characters just fell together too easily, the story picks up in depth as their relationship develops making it more realistic. The characters are easy to connect with and overall is just an entertaining story about second chances and protecting the ones you love.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

A missed opportunity for me, so many things happening but not one of them fully explored. Starting with their meeting after so many years and the way they parted, how are they just falling back into things so quickly, then the wedding and the bullies for school. And that random hookup that was never mentioned again. Not to mention the whole Ian debacle, that’s a whole book on its own. Not for me this one I’m afraid.

Patrica Evans did a wonderful job with the character development in London as well as writing descriptive scenes to where the reader almost feels present. This book started as a romantic second chance romance and around the mid way point it evolved into a thriller.

The book was well written and the spicy scenes sizzled with emotion of past lost love. Jaq from Scotland Yard was a dream but I didn’t like her blowing off steam with another woman a couple of weeks after Bronwyn returned to her fiancé. 4.5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Stokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I've read several of this author's books and so far, this is my favorite. The MC"s were wonderful, with just the right amount of angst, and lots of spicy romance. Her descriptions of the area were easy for me to see with my mind's eye. I'm not at all familiar with London, but the food descriptions were informative. Very well done.