Book Review - Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman

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Amazon UK

Title: Up Close and Personal

Author: Kathryn Freeman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter 

Publication Date: 12th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

She can’t let him out of her sight…

Sizzling chemistry, a page-turning will they/won’t they romance and the hottest twist on one of your favourite movies…
British actor Zac Edwards is the latest heartthrob to hit the red carpets. Hot, talented and rich, he sends women wild…all except one.

Close protection officer Kat Parker hasn’t got time to play celebrity games.  She has one job: to protect Zac from the stalker that seems to be dogging his every move.

Zac might get her hot under her very starched collar, but Kat’s a professional – and sleeping with Zac is no way part of her remit…

From the moment that Zac and Kat met I was hooked.  Once again this author's fabulous ability to write humorous scenes, characters with clear chemistry and enjoyable conversation has shone through, to make this a ridiculously enjoyable book! 

It's not every day you read a book featuring a film star and a bodyguard, especially not when the bodyguard is female.  Kat is amazing, she is like a female superhero, and all the while she is looking after her 14 year old niece, in addition of doing her day job of protecting superstar Zac from what we assume to be a stalker. 

Although you may never in your life come up close and personal with a movie star actor yourself, or need a bodyguard, these are characters that are so lifelike and realistic that it feels as though you know them intimately.  They are both clearly hiding things from each other, which may or may not be relevant to Zac's protection. 

I loved seeing the various revelations and there is plenty of action in this book. I also really enjoyed seeing just what a nice guy Zac truly he, he made some gestures that were so lovely, including treating Kat and her niece to a memorable day out for them, even if he wasn't that into it.  I would have swapped places with any of the characters to have had the experience Kat had that day! 

This is just another top quality Kathryn Freeman book which is what makes her an auto must read author for me.  Thoroughly enjoyable the whole way through, I accidentally managed to read it one sitting (when I'm sure I was meant to be doing other things). 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - A Second Christmas Wish by Kathryn Freeman

Amazon UK

Title: A Second Christmas Wish

Author: Kathryn Freeman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Choc Lit

Publication Date: 1st November 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Do you believe in Father Christmas?
For Melissa, Christmas has always been overrated. From her cold, distant parents to her manipulative ex-husband, Lawrence, she’s never experienced the warmth and contentment of the festive season with a big, happy family sitting around the table.

And Melissa has learned to live with it, but it breaks her heart that her seven-year-old son, William, has had to live with it too. Whilst most little boys wait with excitement for the big day, William finds it difficult to believe that Father Christmas even exists.

But then Daniel McCormick comes into their lives. And with his help, Melissa and William might just be able to find their festive spirit, and finally have a Christmas where all of their wishes come true …

A Second Christmas Wish is just one of those heart warming, and absolutely loveable Christmas stories. It clearly has taken a small influence from one specific Christmas film that I can think of, but I won't say which one, as it may give away one of the sweetest, most charming and emotional moments of the whole book. 

In fact I could easily see this story on at the very least the small screen, as it is the sort of tale that I think can be enjoyed year on year and become a family favourite. 

The quality of the writing and the way the prologue was written was enough for me to be hooked on this book. I loved every part of this story, with the obvious exception of Melissa's ex-husband who I really didn't take to, but he wasn't meant to be loved. 

Melissa has come out of a controlling marriage, and lives with her 7 year old son William. William is painfully shy to start with, and is scared of his own father. Melissa persuades him to have tennis lessons in the run up to Christmas, alongside his best friend, Simon. 

It just so happens Simon's uncle is the tennis instructor and is the gorgeous ex-grand slam winner Daniel McCormick, who had to retire due to injury. Daniel is warned against even flirting with Melissa but as they all get to know each other better, feelings develop. 

The question is whether Melissa and William's past has hurt them to the extent to whether they can still enjoy Christmas and enjoy the magic of the season, and Daniel does his best to put a smile on both of their faces. 

A Second Christmas Wish is  a relatively easy going book to read, that brought me a huge amount of enjoyment.

Thank you so much to Choc Lit and Netgalley for my copy of this book. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - Before You by Kathryn Freeman - Booklympics - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title:  Before You

Author: Kathryn Freeman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Choc Lit

Publication Date: 21st June 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

When life in the fast lane threatens to implode … 
Melanie Hunt’s job working for the Delta racing team means she is constantly rubbing shoulders with Formula One superstars in glamorous locations like Monte Carlo. But she has already learned that keeping a professional distance is crucial if she doesn’t want to get hurt. 

New Delta team driver Aiden Foster lives his life like he drives his cars – fast and hard. But, no matter how successful he is, it seems he always falls short of his championship-winning father’s legacy. If he could just stay focused, he could finally make that win. 

Resolve begins to slip as Melanie and Aiden find themselves drawn to each other –with nowhere to hide as racing season begins. But when a troubled young boy goes missing, everything is thrown into turmoil, including Aiden’s championship dream. 

I should probably mention before I get into the review proper that I am a huge romance book fan in addition to being a massive Formula 1 fan, and so to have them combined in the way they have in this book has been brilliant for me. 

This is one those books that really resonated with me on a few levels, partly due to my love of Formula 1 and sexy racing drivers are always a bonus, partly due to trying to move into a publicity role myself, so could understand elements of Melanie's job, and also because like Aiden I don't have the best of relationships with my mother. 

In fact its the range of depth to Aiden's personality that really impressed me, for the press he is charming, giving light hearted answers, but in private he is a loving man, who is finding himself very attracted to Melanie, his press officer. His family issues that he jokes about on the surface run deeper than you may expect but as he gets to know Mel more, you can get the feel of his life. 

The level of realism in this story from the racing point of view, is brilliant, at a guess I would say based on various references as an amalgam of elements from the 2013-15 seasons, since there was a reference to the quieter engines, and the tracks were mention in all their glory, as well as the destinations, even if you don't really get to see those, as its not really a holiday. 

Melanie has been burnt before by a relationship with a driver so she is determined to hold Aidan at arm's length, while he is attempting to win a world championship, and hopefully start to lessen the comparisons between his and his father's racing careers. 

There is a clear chemistry between Melanie and Aiden which is great to see and read about, given at one point they seem to want to drive each other crazy. And their feelings deepen when Aiden gets some phone calls that will produce more distractions in this critical season for him. 

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Before You, and found it to be a fast adrenalin filled story that any F1 fan would love. Even if you aren't keen on motor sport, there is still plenty of great story in this book, to keep you entertained.  This is the second book I have read by this author and is definitely my favourite by far, will definitely have to look out for more future releases by Kathryn Freeman. 

Thank you to Choc Lit and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 

About Kathryn Freeman

I was born in Wallingford but have spent most of my life living in a village outside Windsor. A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also loves to write romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero… 

I’ve two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) so the romance in my life is all in my head. Then again, my husband’s unstinting support of my career change goes to prove that love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes can come in many disguises.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter: @kathrynfreeman1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7373990.Kathryn_Freeman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-freeman-2962209

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

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Book Review - Too Charming by Kathryn Freeman

Amazon UK

Title: Too Charming

Author: Kathryn Freeman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Choc Lit

Publication Date: 7th June 2015

Rating: 3 Stars

Does a girl ever really learn from her mistakes?
Detective Sergeant Megan Taylor thinks so. She once lost her heart to a man who was too charming and she isn't about to make the same mistake again - especially not with sexy defence lawyer, Scott Armstrong. Aside from being far too sure of himself for his own good, Scott's major flaw is he defends the very people that she works so hard to imprison.

But when Scott wants something he goes for it. And he wants Megan. One day she'll see him not as a lawyer, but as a man - and that's when she'll fall for him.

Yet just as Scott seems to be making inroads, a case presents itself that's far too close to home, throwing his life into chaos.

As Megan helps him pick up the pieces, can he persuade her he isn't the careless charmer she thinks he is? Isn't a man innocent until proven guilty?

Too Charming felt to me like a book of two halves. The first half was your typical romance story, boy and girl fight before giving into some serious sexual chemistry. The second half was more of a detective/mystery story, but with the same characters and still the pull of some sexual chemistry. 

DS Megan Taylor has issues trusting men, and having fallen for and then had her heart broken from a charming, confident man, she is determined not to let defence lawyer Scott get under her skin. 

Megan has a daughter, Sally (6), who is an inquisitive young girl, and was a delight to read about. Scott has never really had any dealings with children before, but seems to know exactly how to treat Sally, which helps Megan's defences lower. 

As the book progresses, a case comes up that will make both Megan and Scott see each other far more clearly. Megan's other objection to Scott, other than him being charming, is his job. Although both of them are trying to fight for justice, Megan hates that Scott works for the bad guys and can possibly make it so that they go free. Whereas obviously Megan is on the side of trying to lock up the criminals. 

I found that this was part romance and part crime book, but neither genres were covered in enough depth for me. I struggled through the first half of the book, and if the pace and story hadn't improved at that point, I may have given up. As it was the case that interlinks Megan and Scott fully was interesting, and I wanted to know what happened next. 

Easy to read book but no real depth, and Megan must have repeated the same mistrust of Scott so many times, it was starting to feel like a broken record. Scott and Sally are the stars of this story. 

Thank you to Choc Lit and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.