Book Review - Raving About Rhys by Jessica Redland

Amazon UK

Title:  Raving About Rhys

Author: Jessica Redland

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: So Vain Books

Publication Date: 12th May 2015

Rating: 4 Stars

Bubbly Callie Derbyshire loves her job as a carer, and can’t believe she’s finally landed herself a decent boyfriend – older man Tony – who’s lasted way longer than the usual disastrous three months. Tony’s exactly what she’s always dreamed of… or at least he would be if he ever took her out instead of just taking her to bed. And work would be perfect too if she wasn’t constantly in trouble with her boss, The She-Devil Denise. 

When the new gardener, Mikey, discovers her in a rather compromising position at work, Callie knows that her days at Bay View Care Home could be numbered. Can she trust him not to tell Denise? If she was issued with her marching orders, who’ll look out for her favourite client, Ruby, whose grandson, Rhys, seems to constantly let her down? What does Ruby know about Tony? And what is Denise hiding? 

Surrounded by secrets and lies, is there anyone left who Callie can trust?

It was while I was writing my review for Searching For Steven, that I discovered this novella even existed, and even happier to get a review copy from Netgalley and So Vain Books the next day. This is my honest review. 

Callie, very clearly loves her job at the care home. Although they are not meant to have favourites she clearly has an affinity to a woman called Ruby. There are many conversations between Ruby and Callie, and Ruby offers advice on all sorts of topics, including men. She can't stop raving about her amazing grandson Rhys, although Callie has never seen any evidence that he exists,

Callie's relationship with boyfriend of 10 months, Tony isn't going so well. All he ever wants to do is stay in and have sex, and Callie wants more than that, but can't quite bring herself to end it. 

Meanwhile, there is a new gardener at the care home, Mikey. He first meets Callie, when she is in a rather compromising position, and it takes a while for anything resembling a friendship to form. 

This is a lovely story, with quite a few twists. I loved what a caring character Callie was, she clearly has great empathy for everyone. However she does seem to be picked on by her boss Denise (referred to as The She-Devil). 

Mikey was a lovely man, and I was rather taken with him myself.  

And then there is the elusive Rhys. When we get to meet him, I can understand exactly why Ruby was continually raving about him. He's fabulous. 

This is a sweet romantic story about following your heart, and is an excellent debut novella from Jessica Redland. Having already read Searching For Stephen, I will just say some of these characters will recur in it, and so does the lovely location.  Jessica Redland is definitely an author worth keeping an eye on.

My review of Searching for Stephen will be posted on 3rd June 2015, so if this review has whetted your appetite, then please do come back.