Today, I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Helen J Rolfe‘s new book What Rosie Found Next. A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please keep reading to the end of my review as there is a fabulous giveaway for you to enter!
A shaky upbringing has left Rosie Stevens craving safety and security. She thinks she knows exactly what she needs to make her life complete – the stable job and perfect house-sit she’s just found in Magnolia Creek. The only thing she wants now is for her long-term boyfriend, Adam, to leave his overseas job and come home for good.
Owen Harrison is notoriously nomadic, and he roars into town on his Ducati for one reason and one reason only – to search his parents’ house while they’re away to find out what they’ve been hiding from him his entire life. When he meets Rosie, who refuses to quit the house-sit in his parents’ home, sparks fly.
Secrets are unearthed, promises are broken, friendships are put to the test and the real risk of bushfires under the hot Australian sun threatens to undo Rosie once and for all.
Will Rosie and Owen find what they want or what they really need?
Set in Australia, this is an interesting book in which Rosie has to decide what is important. Rosie is engaged to Adam who is the safe choice and offers security. Like a glass of good burgundy it is full bodied, full of flavour and to be savoured. Once opened the desire to finish it in one sitting is hard to resist.
Rosie needs to allow herself to be happy. When Owen enters her life she starts to develop doubts about Adam. In the beginning she had admired Adam for his ambition, how he knew exactly what he wanted in life and took every opportunity to go for it. But his dreams are different to hers, Rosie wants the simple life. She’d always been independent but for some reason she’d let Adam take control. Adam assuming they want the same things doesn’t ask her what she wants for their future. Rosie knows what she wants, but is it what she needs?
Owen too is on a journey of discovery; something doesn’t add up. His parents are being evasive but he is determined in their absence to discover the truth. There is also more to Owen than meets the eye.
I really enjoyed this book; both characters have great chemistry, are substantial, interesting and well developed. The plot too has plenty of surprises and whilst Adam’s character is less developed than Owens I enjoyed the way contrasts were drawn both between their personalities and their relationship with Rosie.
The book has a good plot; the love triangle provides the continuity but is only part of it. The setting in Magnolia Creek is charming despite the ever present bush fire risk. This is my first book by this author but having enjoyed it so much I will be looking out for more.
Recommended.
RatherTooFondOfBooks - "I really enjoyed this novel, it was different to what I had been expecting but I loved that parts of it surprised me. It has a real depth to it and I became so invested in these characters and was really willing them on to find happiness.
Helen J Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction. She enjoys weaving stories about family, relationships, friendships, love, and characters who face challenges and fight to overcome them. Her books feature strong female lead characters and although her stories often deal with serious issues, they always have a happy ending.
Helen has a Business degree and worked as a Computer Programmer before realising her dream in 2003 of being a writer. After pursuing a career in journalism and having written for women's health and fitness magazines she is now the author of two published novels "The Friendship Tree and "Handle Me With Care" published in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Born and raised in the UK, Helen spent fourteen years living in Australia before returning home. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.
Her passions next to reading and writing include yoga, Pilates and chocolate.
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog! I really enjoyed writing What Rosie Found Next and I'm glad you enjoyed reading the story...I'll be back in Magnolia Creek soon, with book 2 in the Magnolia Creek Series :-)
ReplyDeleteHelen J Rolfe
You are welcome.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading book 2. :-)
I finished the first draft this evening! 💖
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and good luck with the editing.
ReplyDelete