Meet Me at Pebble Beach
by Bella Osborne
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Pub Date 28 May 2020 | Archive Date 5 Jun 2020
Avon Books UK | Avon
Description
Regan is holding a winning lottery ticket.
Goodbye to the boyfriend who never had her back, and so long to the job she can’t stand!
Except it’s all a bit too good to be true…
When Regan gets pranked, she finds herself jobless, homeless and boyfriendless in one fell swoop.
Luckily her friendly seaside community provides a beacon of hope, proving to Regan that sometimes you really can rely on the kindness of others – and one local in particular, a handsome fireman called Charlie, helps Regan realise that this could be her chance for a fresh start.
Armed with a list of ways to change her life, Regan decides it’s time to step out of her comfort zone. Because – as Charlie knows all too well – life is for living . . .
A feel-good summer read, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Veronica Henry and Cressida McLaughlin.
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9780008331283 |
PRICE | US$4.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 400 |
Featured Reviews
You know when you read a book that you really like, this was the book for me, it made my heart sing. I had everything I wanted food, animals, romance. I really liked Regan as she was all about everyone else apart from herself. I saw myself in her a few times trying to do good for other people. I loved hearing about Elvis the dog, I think he was the star of the show, I can't believe what he had gone through. But good job Regan was there. I think what this story has showed me is that never give up on your dreams. If there is a will, there is a way.
A thought provoking, bitter sweet book. Whilst it has a lovely cover I don't feel it does the story justice.
I started this book thinking it would be a 'feel good' easy to read book. And it was that but so much more too. Thought provoking and emotional.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach by Bella Osborn, published by Avon Books, is a full length, stand-alone romance novel.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package. - the author.
Regan is a heroine who's difficult to like at first. She's high maintenance, annoying, full of self pity. And she loves to prank her co-worker. But when the prank fires back on her, she's out of all, no job, no boyfriendand no home anymore. What to do?? Easy peesy, go home to daddy - nope doesn't work either.
Then she meets a real good guy, only he has his own baggage to carry - and oh girl, what baggage that is, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. Only so much, he' the perfect flawed boyfriend and I want one of my own.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach is a high on drama, fast paced read that let me fall in love with maybe 50 precent of the characters and 100 percent of the story. I liked the meet-cute and the plott-wist just fine. It's a wonderful book with a touching story.
I recommend the book, 4,75 stars.
I found it a slow start and I was unsure, then bang I could not stop reading it. So many twists. It was brilliant. . Did not see the twist in her father's story or how Alex turned out. .The part about Kevin and his dog, made you sad and think. The book covered so many topics. I could rave on. Just buy it and enjoy
This is a humerus lighthearted read perfect for taking your mind off what’s happening in the world currently!
Regan thinks she has won the lottery! In haste she quits her job and her relationship with her boyfriend and makes a list of things she will do! Unfortunately the lottery win was a prank from her work colleague, so regan is actually now homeless and jobless!fortunately with some good luck and amazing friends regan slowly begins to rebuild her life and in doing so opens her head and heart to new experiences which show her how the simple things in life can be the most important, surrounded by great friends, a new relationship, a mad dog and a new outlook on life regan has it all!
Thank you net galley for this early read.
Regan buys a lottery ticket and on checking the numbers, thinks she has won the lottery and she calls her boyfriend to end their relationship.
Not only that but she also quits her job by telling her boss off. Only to find out that she hadn’t won and her colleague has played a joke on her. She’s made to leave her employers building after arguing with her colleague.
Enter a hot cop who comes to the rescue, but is he? She finds out he’s not and after looking at the list she made of what she’d do if she won the lottery, he tells her that she can do all these things without it.
Now she has no where to sleep because she lived with her boyfriend.
So, now with nowhere to live and after her friend asks her to look after her art studio, Regan starts living there, until she comes back without telling her.
She starts having feelings for Charlie, but when he tells her nothing can happen between them, she’s heartbroken.
She sets about thinking of running Khmer own business.
She befriends a rough sleeper with his dog who she buys coffee/tea for sleeping outside the coffee shop where Penny works..
A tragic accident and once again she feels lost. But is determined to make her business a success and find the culprit for the accident.
A twist occurs when she discovers that the rough sleeper was the brother of her boss.
A lovely story, definitely recommend it.
Absolutely loved this book! I really didn’t want it to end. There were several places that left you on a cliffhanger and wanting more (especially if you read it in the four parts). Pure tale of true life with ups and downs along the way and proving that life is what you make it! Sadly bad things do happen to good people. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but you won’t be disappointed and it will leave you wanting to read more! Highly recommended!
This was an absolutley brilliant book. I love it from start to finish, I will definitely be reading more Bella Osborne in the future.
This is the best book that I have read by this author so far.
What would you do if your colleague made you think you’d won the lottery and then admitted to you that you’d been pranked? Regan has already quit her job and dumped her boyfriend before she finds out she’s been duped. Where can Regan go from here?
The story follows Regan as she attempts to get back on her feet. With no job and nowhere to live, she needs to seriously consider what her future holds. But with members of the local community and hunky fireman Charlie on her side, can she overcome her problems and find the fresh start she is looking for?
A lovely lighthearted story which made for the perfect read.
On a whim, Regan purchases a lottery ticket, even though she know her boyfriend won’t approve. When her coworker, Alex, tells her she’s won, Regan says good-bye to both her boyfriend and her job. She’s ready to tackle her lottery bucket list, only to learn Alex has played a prank on her. She finds her self jobless, boyfriend less, and homeless within a matter of minutes.
I loved this book! Regan is kindhearted, generous, maybe to a fault. She is determined to make her lottery dreams come true even without winning the lottery.
I’m so excited that this is the first book in a series of four!
I really enjoyed this. Regan's life is ticking along. Boring boyfriend and a job where her and her colleague Alex play practical jokes on each other until one goes too far. And so Regan's life dramatically changed. No job, no boyfriend and no home. She then meets Charlie who opens her eyes to all possibilities. An easy heartwarming read.
Thank you to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Without a doubt this is up there with my all time favourite books that I have read. I must clarify, I read the book in its four parts, then read the entire book afterwards. I make this point because reading an individual book in the series, it usually left on a cliffhanger style ending. So, this book is absolutely brilliant from start to finish. I am in no way going to spoil it for anybody by giving a retelling of the story. This book will take you on an absolute rollercoaster of a journey. Its hilarious, moving, totally absorbing, twists to the story you may not have thought were coming. Full of really brilliantly picked characters and of course a few four legged adorable creatures that really add a special touch. In my opinion, this is an absolute must read book, I absolutely devoured it.
What a sweet story. Regan Regan has a bit of tough luck until she meets Charlie, unfortunately Charlie has a brain tumor. He helps Regan live a better life. I really enjoyed this book.
This was an ARC from netgalley.
'Meet Me at Pebble Beach' is Bella Osborne's latest book to be released, and what a joyous story it was! Originally released as a four-part series, 'Meet Me at Pebble Beach' is the complete book, and I couldn't wait to splash into the pages because it sounded like just the ticket for a warm, witty and amusing escape to Brighton alongside Osborne's leading lady, Regan.
In 'Meet Me at Pebble Beach', readers are introduced to the lovely Regan. Unorganised, clumsy, a little bit untidy but utterly hilarious, the story opens with an amusing chapter in which Regan is, yet again, running late for work, and is cuddled up in bed next to a half-eaten kebab. This pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the book, because Regan comes across as being pretty chaotic, and as we begin to discover later on in her story, so is her life. In this first chapter, we also have the pleasure of meeting Regan's boyfriend, Jarvis, who is, to put it lightly, a bit of an a******e, and who I took an instant disliking to. Condescending, grumpy, and an utter fusspot of a perfectionist, these two couldn't have been more opposite to each other if they'd tried to be. I couldn't help feeling that Regan's breeziness and ability to let things go was the main reason their relationship had survived as long as it had. I think, too, that how Regan handles the constant nagging and sly remarks says a lot about her personality in this book. She's bold and not afraid to be herself, and I felt that she was a very 'take it or leave it' sort of person. She wasn't sensitive, but instead confident in who she was as a person with no apologies for it, and I loved that about her. Still, I don't think that I personally could have dealt with Jarvis for as long as Regan managed to. He grated on me the second he opened his mouth.
As Regan's story progresses, more of her world opens up to us and we get to meet the people and places Regan interacts with on a daily basis, the 'Hug in a Mug' coffee shop a particular favourite of mine. There's Penny, who runs the coffee shop, and Cleo, Regan's beautiful best-friend who is a successful and well-known artist, and who has a life even celebs would be jealous of. There's also Kevin, a warm and friendly homeless man who Regan hands a fresh coffee to daily, and Alex, Regan's annoying colleague who, in a roundabout way, gets the ball rolling with Regan's life changes. I really loved all of Osborne's characters in this book. They were all so entertaining in their own ways and truly brought the book to life. Osborne does a fantastic job of making them leap right off the page and into your imagination, and I felt as if I knew them myself by the time I turned the final page.
I think the pace of this book really picks up when Regan's lottery ticket comes into play. On a whim, she decides to buy a ticket and alongside Alex, they both make a list of what they'd do if they were to win the lottery. I loved this aspect of the story, because we see Regan think about what she truly wants from life, if only money wasn't an issue. Well known for pranking each other, Alex manages to trick Regan into thinking she's won the lottery. It is here that Regan finally feels brave enough, with nothing to hold her back, to get rid of anything that doesn't bring happiness to her life, and brave enough to deal with the things she's been wanting to deal with for quite a while. She end's her relationship with Jarvis, and quits her job, because she's won the lottery so what the hell! There's no stopping her now. That is until Alex appears, and reveals that it's all a big joke, and she hasn't won the lottery after all. This part of the book made me laugh so much, and I found the whole idea absolutely hilarious. It truly entertained me and I think it was a genius move on Bella's part, because not only is it funny, but it puts Regan's character in a position of losing everything in one fell swoop, and suddenly she's faced with trying to put her life back together, all in the matter of an hour.
This was a highly-entertaining, yet warm and emotional novel by Bella Osborne. It made me laugh and it made me want to cry, and it made me think about what I'd ever do if I won the lottery. I mean, I think first of all I'd make sure it was real, after reading this book, but it also made me think, why do we let money hold us back? Why not tick things off our wish lists in a different way? Not every goal or wish needs money to be achieved and I really loved that message. There's also romance by the plenty too. We meet Charlie, a handsome firefighter, and he helps Regan in her mission to achieve her lottery wish-list, which led to some pretty adorable scenes in the book, those of which melted my heart. It really was a lovely little package of a novel, and one I really enjoyed reading. The only thing I would say is that I hoped there be more beachy scenes, but there's so much more going on in the book, it's enough to keep you busy throughout.
All in all, this was a delightful, empowering story about taking charge of your life, and granting your own wishes instead of waiting on the lottery to do it for you. It was a book about friendship, goals, and discovering that there's more to life, if you're brave enough to break away from the things that tie you down. Completely uplifting, playful and left me with a smile on my face, 'Meet Me at Pebble Beach' by Bella Osborne will make a lovely sunshiney read this year, sure to lift your spirits and leave you thinking about what you'd put on your own lottery wish list.
The Book Babe is awarding 'Meet Me at Pebble Beach' by Bella Osborne with a four out of five star rating. With thanks to Avon for the advance reading copy of this book, that of which has no reflection on my giving a fair and honest review.
I’ve read a few Bella Osborne books but for me this is her best yet. Regan is a very interesting character, she’s definitely not found her place in life and was just plodding along until a practical joke has serious consequences for her. There’s some other great characters in here, several of whom have issues of their own which are all covered well, there’s some strong themes in here and lots of food for thought (and not just jams and chutneys!) I really enjoyed this, it’s warm and easy to read but intelligent too. 9/10
This is an honest review for an advanced copy of the book.
This is a new author to me and wow, how I enjoyed the book.
It took me 10% of the book to get into it and after that I was hooked.
I loved the main character Reg and I almost felt I knew the characters personally.
There were that many twists and turns, I thought I knew what was coming then off it went in another direction.
I absolutely loved this book and am off now to download another by the author.
This was broken up into 4 books but I read the entire novel. The main character Regan gets herself into trouble when she thinks she has won the lottery. She meets a wonderful gentleman Charlie and the sparks fly. She is friends with a homeless man Kevin and his dog Elvis. She has a best friend Cleo. All of these add into a wonderful story.
If you are into romance novels you should read this one. If is funny and serious at the same time.
At first glance this is your typical rom-com. Regan is stuck in a job she hates and in a relationship that's going nowhere. Then she is tricked into thinking she's won the lottery and quits both her job and her boyfriend before discovering the terrible truth. Left jobless, boyfriendless and homeless, she must find a way to get her life back. Can the handsome stranger who she meets on the same day be part of that life? so typical rom-com then?
Actually it's not. it is so much more. With a storyline that dwells on how easy it would be for any of us to become homeless, there is also a heavy focus on how homeless people are viewed and treated in our society through the character of Kevin. This side of it gave pause for thought and there were times when I cried. However, this isn't a depressing book, just thought provoking in places.
There is also a real mystery element to the story when Regan is determined to solve a real-life crime when the police don't seem able to and I enjoyed trying to work out who the culprit was (but failed).
I loved Kevin, Elvis and Cleo but at the start of the book I struggled to like Regan> However, as her story developed and her real commitment to Kevin and Elvis was shown, I really warmed to her.
Overall, its really funny but also heartbreakingly sad but with a huge dash of hopeful thrown in. I loved it.
Loved this book. Regan believed she had a winning lottery ticket. Ditches her boyfriend Jarvis which means she's got nowhere to stay, resigns from her job and then discovers it was hoax from someone she worked with. She now has no job, nowhere to stay and no boyfriend
Well this was a wonderful story. Whether you did this novel as four separate parts or devoured the entire things as a whole I am sure that you loved getting to know Regan and travelling around Brighton as much as I did. This book does have something for everyone, a cosy coffee shop, a glamorous travel lifestyle, the idea of starting over and just a touch of romance for more than one of the characters.
Regan was a great character to spend this novel with because she really does start off with a nice life and then loses it all within a click of her fingers. We get to see her at rock bottom and get to see how she copes with that. I love the fact that we never quite knew what she was going to do next and I love that she was a slight fly by the seat of her pants type of character because it meant that she could be tempered by some of the other more organised characters around her in the cast of the book.
Obviously I loved getting to know the other characters in this novel too. They weren't always perfect but they provided a good sounding board for Regan and they were there to help her and bolster her endeavours in life. My favourite secondary character was Elivs, by a mile. I think that dog really came along when we needed him most and I loved watching life change for him as much as it did for Regan.
The setting of this book was great because Brighton is a seaside town but town that has a whole lot more than just beach about it. It allowed Regan to think big and yet have that wild beach there to ground her at the same time. I would love to see how some of the other characters went about town
Thank you thank Avon books for this wonderful ARC to read.
What a delightful book had me laughing from the first chapter a great thing whilst in lockdown
Regan quits for job and dunps her boyfriend after thinking she has won 10 million on the lottery.
Such a great book set in wonderful Brighton a place I love.
Great work from Bella Osbourne
I've read several of Bella Osborne's books before and have loved them all. They are generally released as a four-part series over the period of a few weeks, with the complete book being released as one story towards the end of the series. I do actually like this as each episode is only 99p so you get the chance to try the first part before committing to the whole book, and it's easy to read in an afternoon.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach is about a Regan who makes a fantasy list of what she would do if she won the lottery. Her winning numbers "come up" and we follow her journey of what happens next.
After reading part one in April, I felt that the main character Regan was quite scatty, slovenly and even a bit lazy. She did seem to have her heart in the right place, and I felt that we would see her develop quite a bit in future episodes of this story.
As the story progressed it took on a heavier slant dealing with homelessness in Brighton and terminal health. I wondered how Bella Osborne was going to give this one a happy ending. I can't say much more without giving you any spoilers but the book is a good mix of lightheartedness and serious issues.
I like the acknowledgments in the back of the books for the individuals and charities involved in giving Bella advice for this story. Homelessness in Brighton is a cause I like to support personally.
Meet Me At Pebble Beach by Bella Osborne is released on 28 May 2020 on Avon Books.
Regan as the answer to all her dreams - the winning lottery ticket.
Or so she thinks.
It turns out that all her actions from holding that ticket are about to come back and haunt her.
She finds herself, jobless, homeless, boyfriendless and frankly quite helpless. Her laissez-faire attitude to everything has got her into this mess and only some hard work and seizing the day is going to get her out of it.
Regan has to start again and relying on the kindness of strangers she starts to fulfill some of the things she has always wanted to do and perhaps you don't always need a big lottery win to tick some of the things off your bucket list!
One of those strangers is Charlie, who stops her from doing injury to herself and others. Charlie reminds her that she needs to live her life here and now. Stop waiting for it to happen to you - he knows all about the choices he has made.
Slowly and with some very funny false starts Regan begins to get involved in the community and find her way in life. When certain events and revelations which she cannot control (unlike her silly pranks that got her into her original mess) start to affect Regan on a more personal level she starts to realise that perhaps life could have more meaning and purpose if she had more meaning and purpose.
The setting to me was not obvious as a "seaside community", Brighton in fact. It took me a while to work out the relevance of the title to the story and I am still perhaps not sure. For me it could have been a bit more clearer and I felt it was dropped into the plot a clunky fashion and made no real difference to the overall story. However that is being particularly picky because the story was great and kept me reading because I wanted to see what Regan was goign to get up to next!
An uplifting feel good read with a good dose of humour to lift the spirits.
This book follows the story of Regan and how her life changed when she wins the lottery! She leaves her job and her boyfriend, and tells them both what she thinks of them! The only problem is the lottery ticket was a joke, swapped by her friend for a laugh! Regan is now jobless, homeless and without a boyfriend. Obviously, life can’t get any lower for her, so when she meets fireman, Charlie surely things can only be on the way up…?
I originally read this book when it was serialised into four parts, but it was great to read it again as one full length story without having to wait for each part to be released!! Regan is a great character and one which everyone can relate to in some way!! She’s clumsy, messy and never on time, but for all her faults she has twice as many good qualities!! She’s obviously unhappy both in work and her relationship so when she thinks she’s won the lottery she does what most of us would probably do and tells them both where to go!!! As soon as I started reading this part however, you just knew that it was a prank and I gingerly continued to read knowing full well what would happen on the turn of the page!
Meeting Charlie when Regan was at her lowest may have seemed like a positive to her, but Charlie also came with his own personal baggage. Without revealing any spoilers, as the story moves on, they both end up supporting each other, despite that being really difficult for both of them. This book certainly takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, having you giggling through their antics one minute and wiping away the tears the next. Supported by a great selection of other characters, their stories will certainly leave you gripped to the pages! I also have to say that I think my favourite character, albeit a four legged one, is Elvis the dog and the visions of him tied to a market stall had me laughing out loud!!
The storyline is fast paced and holds your attention right from the first page! It is full of chapter cliff-hangers and little mysteries about certain characters, which are all tied up nicely by the conclusion. Whilst it is a fun read for the majority of the book, it also has some serious storylines and these certainly pull at your heartstrings, giving you a few lessons in love, friendship, loss and trust. The characters were perfect, the location was stunning (great images of sitting under the pier!) and a storyline that kept you hooked! As usual with this author’s books, this was a heart-warming read, filled with plenty of love, laughter and tears. Would definitely recommend!!
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Just what I needed to read in these strange times, light hearted, great characters and good story line. An escapism read. Really like everything this author has written as well
I was delighted to be given the chance to review this book for netgalley and the publishers as I have read lots if good reviews for this author.
Reagan thinks she has won the lottery and wastes no time in ending her relationship and quiting her job. Unfortunately the lottery win was a prank by one of her work colleagues. So she is now jobless and homeless.
The story follows her turning things around with the help of friends, good luck, a new relationship and a dog.
It is a nice story worth reading.
Read this book as the four parts were released and couldn't wait until the next part arrived. A lot of unexpected things happen, certainly didn't see many of them coming. A mixture of genres in this book which makes it a little bit different. Well done Bella
This is the first Bella Osborne book that I’ve read and it certainly won’t be the last.
Such an uplifting, feel good story.
After Regan gets pranked by her ‘so called friend’ she loses her job, her boyfriend and her home.
Things aren’t looking good for her until she meets Charlie then everything changes.
I loved the characters and the storyline. I can’t wait to read more.
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for letting me read this book.
Amazing book, loved the story line! Actually made me want to go on holiday to the beach! Bella has done it again! This book a must read relaxing in the garden with a refreshing drink!
This story is so lovely and to be honest it's so much more than your typical light hearted read it's emotional and funny and sad and happy and and and.... lol. This story has given so much and has stayed with me ever since I read it and I highly recommend to anyone!
Oh I do love a Bella Osborne book, and this is no exception!
Within a chapter or two I was very interested in Regan's story and wow does she go on a journey in this book, including hitting rock bottom after a prank leads her to quitting her job, dumping her boyfriend and as a result losing her home all within a few mins.
Seeing how she deals with that, and how she pulls herself back together and the steps taken to make a wish list written in haste ,to come true! With the help of new and old friends, Regan has a lot of support even if she doesn't always seem to make the best decisions.
This is definitely a book you will enjoy if you love Jam or Hedgohogs - but I promise not hedgehog jam! I won't say why both of these feature quite a bit, but trust me there are all manner of wacky flavoured jams which sounded rather interesting, and amongst other things some incredibly cute hoglets. Oh and Elvis, he's fabulous and is gorgeous,, and a gentle giant, and so mischievous too!
Then there is Kevins' story, which may have you shedding a tear, and the story involving him brings in an important issue, that faces not just Brighton but most places around the world. Oh and Charlie, he is fabulous, I loved Charlie. He's a fireman, he is a rock for Regan, but he also has his own issue and I honestly had no idea how the book was going to turn out, although I'm delighted with the ending.
This is just a really engaging read, it's deep in places, its very lighthearted in places, if best friend Cleo's subject matter for her paintings doesn't raise a smile at least I'd be shocked, and generally its a very well written book that I couldn't get enough of.
Another gem of a book from this talented author.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy, which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Love, love, loved this book. Get yourself some wine, chocolate and tissues before you start.
This book takes you on a rollercoaster of friendship, trust, loyalty and love.. Regan lives with a boyfriend who is a neat freak when she is totally messy and clumsy. Her job is mundane but it pays the bills until she thinks she’s won big on the lottery. This fact gives Regan the courage to change her life, she thinks for the better. Unfortunately all is not how it seems and she finds herself with no home, boyfriend or job. But she knows that she still has more than her homeless friend Kevin. An unexpected meeting with a guy called Charlie changes her life mostly for the better but he is hiding something. A series of events with her homeless friend and the love of his dog makes her realise that she wants to be her own boss and to set her own destiny. Regan is a unique person who gets under the skin of all who meet her
Such a wonderful book, a lovely positive read, not as lighthearted as you think,, lots of substance here. A thought provoking read with lots of heart, a bit slow to start but I found I still didn’t want to put it down. I loved Reagan and Charlie, such a wonderful cast of supporting characters too. A lovely read with real heart.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Meet Me at Pebble Beach is a fantastic book. Thought provoking plot and great characters. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.
This book had me laughing out loud most of the way through, apart from the devastatingly sad bits. Regan is a bit of a disaster, everything that can go wrong does.
When she meets Charlie she thinks her luck might have changed for the better but she is very much mistaken and things go from bad to worse.
Set in Brighton I was able to visualise clearly all the places that she went to which I really enjoyed.
Regan was a rather annoying at times but lovable and very loyal character. Even if she didn’t have anything she would still try to help other people and put them first. I loved her relationship with Elvis the dog and the other characters in the book.
A fun read with lots of laughs and a touch of heartbreak. Regan’s journey is filled with ups and downs and she is a character that will defiantly stay with you.
Meet Me at Pebble Beach was the book that I needed to read. Engaging, funny, emotional, this shows that second chances are always possible and how not winning the lottery may just be the chance you just need.
For me this was a five star read because it was pretty perfect. We have a flawed lead in Regan, romance via Charlie, love for Kevin and a journey that ties them all together.
We follow Regan whose life is boring and uneventful until the day she does not win the lottery and she ends up jobless, homeless and boyfriendless. Almost immediately her life becomes more interesting as she tries to not only find a new place to live but also a job. And on top of that there is fit stranger Charlie. With whom she has instafeelings for.
I adored the story of Kevin and my heart and soul went out to him! This story was more serious and one that gave me pause for thought. However, these more serious moments are balanced with moments of light.
The moments with the jam were pretty hilarious. I'm not sure, even now that jam has been Regan's best idea. However, the idea of Unicorn Jam sounds pretty awesome. And is something that I will be putting on my shopping list.
Meet me at Pebble Beach is a book that will make you smile, laugh and cry. It is a book that was beautiful and simple and something that I needed to read right now. For me this was a comfort read and is one that is going on my to be read again pile.
I thoroughly enjoyed 'Meet me at Pebble Beach' and was hooked to the wonderful characters within the first few pages. This book is a fast paced roller coaster ride of emotions, with lots of dips and dives and moments that I didn't see coming that kept me turning the pages.
Our leading lady Regan was a firecracker, the way she spoke and her sense of humor definitely had me laughing out loud and I liked that she was quite feisty. Her story is certainly one of hope, believing in yourself and not giving up when it seems like you've tried everything and the universe just isn't in your favor. I felt for her and was rooting for her, and really wanted her to stay positive through her ups and downs. Regan made me nervous at times and kept me on the edge of my seat with some of her decisions so when Charlie came along I felt grateful for him and the way he brought a different perspective into Regan's life and gave her some time to pause and think about her actions a little bit. I was praying that Cleo's studio would survive to the end of the story. (You will have to read the book to see what happens.) However, she was always going to be her bold and spontaneous self. It was nice to see how Charlie effected her and made her see all the things in her life that she had to be grateful for and how he gave her that extra push to go after what she wanted.
Charlie was everything. I absolutely adored him. I just loved his calm, his patience and his outlook on life. He was simply a beautiful character that I quickly became attached to. Bella had me crying and shouting at my book on two occasions- I loved him so much. I loved the banter that he and Regan shared and it made my heart flutter how at ease they were in each others company. Their time together looking after baby hedgehogs melted my heart and just their relationship in general was incredibly touching, heartwarming and one that I love, love, loved getting to see blossom.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the friendship group around Charlie and Regan. Cleo and Penny, Kevin and Beanstalk, they were all like a family and I loved what each and every one of them bought to the story. They each go through their own dilemmas, problems and heartache, which looks at being homeless, being accepted by your family, finding love and dealing with critic of your work, and each story brings with it a lovely lesson and dose of inspiration and love.
Bella has written a gorgeous story that you won't be able to put down and that will have you craving Pina Colada Jam, wanting to meet a baby hedgehog and fighting for your life and dreams.
This is the full-length version of the four-part serial released earlier - Meet me at Pebble Beach.
I've followed the author since her first release and have been so pleased to see a progression in the quality of her writing and story-telling as she has gone on.
I'm more than delighted to say that with this novel, Bella has taken That step up. Not only is this of her normal enjoyable quality, but this novel has a hard-hitting message about the state of the homeless. That is all I shall say about the story, except that it is the story of Regan who finds a prank comes back to hit her in a big way.
My thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the reading copy.
YAY! This is the whole Pebble Beach series in one volume so if you, like me, only read one of the novellas or not any of them, you are in for a treat. Regan is in a mess. A big mess. She believed a prank lottery ticket and quit her job. Then she discovered that her boyfriend was a rat. This is both a romance and a change your life story. She moves to Brighton and reorients herself. She makes new, good friends and meets Charlie, the firefighter. All good. Oh, and there's Elvis the dog! There isn't much to say about this except that it's light, it's fun, and I respect the fact that Osborne was able to shift how I felt about Regan (she was annoying at first). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A beach or garden book for sure (although I read it on a grey rainy day).
Meet Me at Pebble Beach started life as a four part series which is how I first started to read it. I found it to be warm and funny and was soon drawn into Regan's story. Her life is catapulted through a huge change at the beginning and the people she knows are also established vividly and you are aware that they all have their own backstory. You learn quite a lot about Regan’s inherent kindness and warmth so you are rooting for her from the start.
Set in Brighton, you get to meet some great characters as Regan starts to reinvent herself and start again. A romcom which is full of fun, nevertheless, you find some more sombre issues there, such as homelessness. You know from the cover, that this is ultimately going to be a heart-warming tale, full of life.
In short: Love and friendship by the sea
I read the first part of this book recently and fully reviewed it here. I was lucky enough to be invited onto the tour for the full book and i was excited to see where it went after i last left off. For those who haven't read the review ill start from the beginning.
Regan has won the lottery, she is holding the ticket and she is so excited she can now leave her job, her boyfriend and follow her dreams including her aims to save an endangered animal & own a business. Her dreams really were coming true, but she has been pranked. Only after she has ditched her job, boyfriend & home does she discover this.
All is not lost though, no matter how it seems - Regan meets a wonderful man named Charlie who helps her look at her list and take life by the horns, he knows that you should take chances and why not now. Regan can follow her dreams.
We follow Regan through the little seaside community and with some help from the locals her life starts to change. Let me say, i loved this. At first the list seemed so far fetched but with some tweaking from Charlie it was certainly achievable. Previous i said that Regan didn't take life too seriously but as we discovered her more, i warmed to her so much, that her personality was infectious. She was confident and didn't hesitate to shout when she thought someone was wronged.
I feel like Charlie in comparison was her perfect match with her chaotic nature, he was calming and soothing. Throw in Regans friends in the form of Cleo, Penny, Kevin and Elvis the dog and you have a lively mismatched bunch. I liked that as new things happened, we spent alot of time understanding them and how they would impact Regans life.
Bella has created a thriving community within a little seaside community and i adored it. It was well constructed and everyone had real depth to them. It was laugh out loud funny in parts, it was endearing and at parts i did feel myself well up.
This was slow going at first. Wasn't sure I was going to be able to get into and then, suddenly I was hooked. Couldn't put it down. I'm glad I stuck with it because it was a really sweet book. A lot happens in this book that covers the range of events, emotions, relationships etc. Love the dog, Elvis. He is a great character! Regan and Charlie are wonderful too. The whole book is a rollercoaster ride because as soon as you think one thing is going to happen, something else does and off you go again. A very enjoyable read!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.
Regan thinks she’s won the lottery, quits her job, and breaks up with her boyfriend. All in the span of 10 minutes. She’s homeless and jobless and needs to find some direction fast. Enter Charlie, a fireman, who is charming and friendly. They strike up a lovely friendship. Regan has some ups and downs, acquires a rather large pet, and learns to make jam.
I enjoyed this story. It was a cute tale with a lot of quirky characters. The plot of pretty realistic. I would recommend it to people who like romantic comedies.
First of all I have to say that I have devoured this book in one day. I have thoroughly enjoyed the story, it is fast paced but not complicated to follow. The characters are fabulous and I have had every emotion going whilst reading it. I have actually shed tears and whooped and smiled throughout. Lots of little things happening all the time to keep you interested with lots of little twists thrown in too. Would definitely recommend this book to others and will be reading more from this author. Thank you to netgalley and the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
There are some books that just completely pull you in, and you feel like you're a participant, rather than a spectator. This is one of those. Everything, the setting, plot, and the characters, just make you feel like you're there.
Regan is a bit of a madcap character, the type who's always having mishaps and mad things happen to her. But you can't help but love her, she's really adorable, and has a heart of gold.
Her life changes in the blink of an eye, but she handles it all, and turns it into an opportunity.
Charlie comes into her life, but it's not as straightforward as it seems.
This is, of course, a lighthearted novel, with some genuinely funny moments, but there's more to it than that. There's realism, as the characters deal with real life issues, and there's a message about what's really important in life. This is all told in a joyous and witty way, but there's some sad and anxious moments too.
This book is the perfect pick-me-up, a wonderful bit of escapism, and a real pleasure to read. Highly recommended.
At first, I thought I wouldn't even finish the book. I was at 7%, and I couldn't get myself to like Regan. She was selfish, unconsiderate and immature.
But then, suddenly, something changed. She started growing up, taking responsibility and working towards what she really wanted. That's when I found myself rooting for her!
I liked that no character was perfect, but they were all learning (some more than others).
At the end, I was really glad I had read this book, I'll be checking for more books by Bella Osborne.
Thanks NetGalleyand the publisher for my ARC.
I absolutely love Bella Osborne's books and could not wait to read Meet Me at Pebble Beach - the cover is utterly lovely and so is the story. There is so much to the storyline and many vital issues are addressed.
In Meet Me at Pebble Beach we are introduced to the lovely Regan, who in an instant loses everything in her life - her boyfriend, her home, her job and her life and although it is the worst thing that happens to her at the time, with the amazing Charlie by her side, she picks herself up, chases her dreams and makes a much better life for herself. The book is set in Brighton and the descriptions of the area made me want to go there for a stroll along the beach and pier!
There are heartbreaking moments in the book which will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The very hard hitting and very important issue of homelessness was a large part of the storyline and it was written about so well. So many other issues were addressed from serious devastating illness, setting up your own business and the guidelines needed to running a business from your own home, injured animals and the way the vets and the community help you out in times of crisis.
The characters were all superb and given so much depth. I loved the relationship with Kevin and Elvis was Regan's best friend at her very worst of times. I loved Cleo - she is a fantastic friend who will always be there for Regan. The relationship between Regan and the lovely Charlie was very hard at times but all turned out very well in the end and they both have a second chance at life and grab it with both hands together - they are the perfect couple and have such a bright sunny future ahead.
A 5 star read that will have you take you through every emotion and will have you smiling and laughing too - highly recommended!
This was some gorgeous uplifting escapism. At first I have to admit I struggled to like Regan and some of her choices frustrated me, but over time she grew and grew on me until I was incredibly invested in her life and her story. She was chaotic and scatty but also deeply empathetic and caring, and determined to get herself back on her feet.
I loved the way that what she wanted and what she was working towards evolved over time. And it was a nice touch of realism and honesty to depict that feeling that so many of us have that we don't really know what we want to do.
I also loved her various friendships and relationships, and the way they developed and linked together. Perfect summer read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-proof of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Regan didn’t immediately appeal to me. I’m a neat freak and sympathised with Jarvis, her ultra tidy boyfriend, but she redeemed herself, within a few pages, with her caring attitude and sense of humour. Regan thinks her life is changing for the better then it doesn’t, but maybe, it does? Just when you think things may be okay fate intervenes.
Humour and poignancy give way to darker issues and real sadness as this story progresses. Regan and Charlie’s conflicted romance forces her to concentrate on finding a new career and move her life forward. Kevin and Elvis are poignant characters and easy to empathise. Friendship, humour, mystery, romance and sadness are all integral to this story.
Regan grows in insight and understanding as she faces heartbreak and tough choices. Her honesty endears her to her friends and the reader. The book concludes with questions answered, mysteries solved and an innate sense of justice.
With relatable characters, humour, poignancy, romance and secrets, this story engages from its exciting beginning, through heartbreak to its positive ending.
I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.