When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally – a Review

When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally – a Review

 

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Description:
Between her business, her recent divorce and her teenage daughter who needs her right now, Zoey Hartford has her hands full. Thank goodness she has her best friend, Mike McKinnon, to keep her laughing. Zoey and Mike have gone through everything together—from chemistry class to heartbreak. They would never risk their friendship…until one unexpected but sizzling night changes everything.

Mike is torn. Funny, down-to-earth Zoey in her flannel shirts and messy ponytail always seems so in control…until she melts into his arms. But he won’t come between Zoey and her daughter. They’ll just keep it casual. No drama. No feelings. No messiness. What could go wrong?

But the meddling, matchmaking book club won’t be denied. They may not have set them up, but they recognize a perfect match when they see one. And they’re determined to help Zoey see what’s been right in front of her for so long…

In Lost in Love, single mom Andrea will do anything to make the fall festival a success…even ask the town bad boy for his help.

Rendezvous Falls:
Book 1: Slow Dancing at Sunrise
Book 2:
Stealing Kisses in the Snow
Book 3:
Barefoot on a Starlit Night
Book 4:
Love Blooms

 

Review:

When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally is a friends to lovers story set in the town of Rendezvous Falls. 

Zoey is a busy woman. Running a business,  surviving a divorce and taking care of her daughter, so Zoey doesn’t have time for anything else! Thank goodness her best friend is there to keep her sane! She honestly wouldn’t be able to cope without Mike. Mike lost his wife (she died) so he immersed himself in his job, but always had time for Zoey and her daughter.

Best friends since children, they’ve helped one another through thick and thin. But what happens to a friendship when a one night stand threatens all they hold dear? 

They decide to try a friends with benefits relationship. Can that really work? Can they keep emotions out of the equation? Will this strengthen or ruin their friendship? Both think they can handle the emotions that this new side of their friendship brings, but when doubts 

There are quiet a few funny moments, I loved the book club they did make me smile. Zoey’s daughter was a great character, bringing to this book insights that only a teenager can bring. I really liked both Mike and Zoey, they’ve been friends for such a long time, could they cross that line and become more? The texts they send to one another did have me smiling and chuckling. His twin sister Mary is a great character, she had a sense of humour that would make us friends in the real world. 

There is also a side story (maybe should have been a novella?) it was cute, but it did distract me from the main story a little (just my opinion.) 

So if you like your romance small town full of great moments, then this is definitely the book for you. No need to read the previous books as this story stands on its own. I’d read book 3 in this series and really enjoyed it. There is a bonus story that was a nice surprise at the end of the book (Andrea and Zayne which is also a quick but fun read.) 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Barefoot on Starlit Night by Jo McNally – a Review

Barefoot on Starlit Night by Jo McNally – a Review

 

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Description:
With a little luck, this fake engagement just might become the real deal…

Bridget McKinnon would do anything for her feisty ailing grandma Maura. She’ll even stay close to home and serve up green beer in the Purple Shamrock instead of pursuing her own culinary dreams. But money’s tight. So when a stranger with a sexy brogue asks about the apartment she’s renting out, Bridget hopes she’s landed a little piece of Irish luck…only to find she’s knee-deep in a crazy plan that’s turning her life upside down.

College professor Finn O’Hearn needs this job in Rendezvous Falls—his visa may depend on it. If he can convince his beautiful but tightly wound landlord to be his pretend fiancée, his boss will be happy—as will Bridget’s matchmaking grandma and her meddling book club. Finn and Bridget fool (almost) everyone with their sizzling glances and toe-curling kisses…even as they tell themselves it’s only make-believe.

Playing a part has never been so easy. But when love is real, it’s time to find the courage to start playing by heart…

 

 

Review: 

Barefoot on a Starlit Night by Jo McNally is the third book in her Rendezvous Falls series, but you don’t need to read the first two. That was a fun read. Yes it’s the usual boy meets girl, girl needs help, boy needs a Visa. (Green card the movie, springs to mind). But the family dynamics had me chuckling for most of the book. The family makes this book worth the read. 

With a meddling Nana, cousins who can’t or won’t help Bridget run the pub her dad left her and her cousins. To the kids that constantly run everyone ragged. And do t forget the book club Nana attends, those ladies are funny. But the family do love one another, they just don’t have time to help Bridget run the pub. 

The pub wasn’t Bridget’s dream, a restaurant where she could create her own dreams was what she wanted, but she promised her dad. And now she’s stuck, the pub isn’t making money, so she’s throwing out new ideas to the family, but as usual no one is interested. 

Renting a room out seems the logical move, she needs the money, but the last tenant caused so much aggravation, Bridget begins to panic. Bridget is a micromanager, she can’t give anything up, she runs a tight ship, so it’s her way or not at all!! That’s causing her to run the bar and cook the food mainly on her own, staff don’t stay long. 

Finn needs lodgings, he needs a place so his College professor will look at keeping him on. He’s good at his job, but his reputation needs building back up (punching your friend for sleeping with your wife at a graduation presentation isn’t the done thing) Rendezvous Falls have given him a second chance, so he’s not going to blow it, he needs to keep his head down and prove he’s worth the risk. But when a joke with his boss gets out of hand, he needs to think fast and get to Bridget before anyone else does…… 

But Bridget isn’t having any of it. The last man she trusted didn’t want to move to Rendezvous Falls with her, in fact not long after she left, he’d moved on!! So a fake engagement? Don’t think it’s going to happen…… 

As I said the family had me in stitches, but that’s not to say Finn and Bridget didn’t. There had been a little spark of attraction from the beginning, but the amount of time they need to spend together to convince people of their engagement has them looking at each other in a different light. 

So will Finn get his tenure at the college? Will he finally be able to get his Green Card? Can Bridget get go of the reins a little? And will the fake engagement turn into a real one? 

Reviewed by JulieB

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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