Book Review - Shipped by Angie Hockman

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Title: Shipped

Author: Angie Hockman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 19th January 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Two arch-rivals.

One promotion.

Can they resist falling for one another in paradise?

Marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she's shortlisted for her dream promotion, the sacrifices finally seem worth it.

If only Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager/bane of her existence, wasn't also up for the position. Although they've never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.

The task: draft a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galápagos.

The catch? They have to go on a company cruise...together.

But when they meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined - and the line between loathing and liking is thinner than a postcard.

With her career dreams in sight and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because what's the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

From the moment the cover for this book was revealed I knew it was one I needed to read. After all I do love a Cruise, I love a Headline Eternal romance, and it's always good to try new authors. 

At not point did I even think to read the blurb, so it did take me slightly by surprise that was are talking explorer cruise in the Galapagos, and not perhaps my normal luxury cruise line trip in the Caribbean or similar. 

Not that it bothered me in the slightest as although I've seen pics of the Galapagos wildlife (funnily enough while working for a luxury tour operator that was branching into offering Galapagos cruises), I don't think I've ever read a book set there and I am all for experiencing new destinations via armchair travel. 

And yes there is a hot romance, at the centre of the book, between Henley and Graeme who you do wonder if they will ever get together properly given how many grudges they seem to be holding against each other, to me that is secondary to the cruise. 

Well the cruise, the battle for Henley to get promoted to the same role the Graeme is trying to win a promotion for, and the interesting ideas they both have for digital marketing for the adventure cruise line that operates all over the world.  All things that interest me greatly in the real world too. 

And the descriptions of the Galapagos Islands didn't let me down, I felt as though I was there alongside Henley, her sister Walsh and Graeme on this cruise. I was exhausted with the excursion schedule and the thought of 3 hour long hikes in the heat,  loved the snorkelling, and hearing details about all of the wildlife.  

There are just so many fabulous elements to this book, that I was sorry that it ended.  I already know I will happily read whatever this author comes out with next, as I enjoyed this book so so much, I found it a very fast book to devour and I was completely hooked on the story.  It felt like everything I could look for in an escapist read, all in one place. 

Thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.