Stevie‘s review of Someone to Love (An Unexpected Romance, Book 2) by Jenny Frame
Contemporary Lesbian Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 10 Dec 19
Although I love Jenny Frame’s contemporary novels generally, I wasn’t particularly taken with Unexpected, partly because of the OTT behaviour of the protagonists’ ex-girlfriends. I was intrigued by the premise of this one, and decided to see if one of those ex-girlfriends could, indeed, be redeemed. Davina Trent – just Trent to her friends – broke up with Becca prior to the previous book, because she didn’t want a family, whereas Becca did. Although she is secretly a little envious of how Becca’s life has turned out, Trent’s work as a divorce lawyer has further convinced her that there’s no such thing as a happy ever after for most people. And then two children come into her life, turning everything upside down, especially Trent’s long-held beliefs and expectations.
The children in question are the son and daughter of Trent’s cousin – and childhood friend – David, and they have survived a car crash in which he was killed instantly, their mother having died three years earlier. When Trent meets the children, she wants as little to do with them as possible, but has to take them home with her if they aren’t to end up in the care of Social Services and to face the possibility of being split up. Trent is convinced that the best place for them will be boarding school – in spite of their young ages – and determines to hire a nanny until places can be arranged.
Wendy Darling – her father had a sense of humour when naming her – dropped out of university after an ex took all her money and left her with massive debts. After spending five years working abroad, Wendy has cleared those debts and is in a position to return and finish her degree. A short-term nannying contract, with accommodation, is exactly what she needs to tide her over until term starts. Of course, she hadn’t bargained on falling so hard for both her charges and their guardian.
Trent and Wendy are both understandably damaged by their respective childhoods – we see quite a lot of indications of what happened in both, and while Wendy did at least have grandparents who loved her, she has also had her trust in people shattered by her ex’s behaviour. Slowly but surely we see them learn to live together and to reach out to each other in times of need, and without at first realising it, they and the children become a proper family.
I loved this book so much and was also very glad that we get to revisit Becca and Dale from the first book – and their children – under less trying circumstances. I’d love to see more books in this series now.
Grade: A
Summary:
Davina Trent lives for work. She spends her days at her prestigious family law firm, ending her clients’ marriages in divorce court and negotiating their hefty payoffs. Marriage is destined to fail, and family can’t be trusted. But when Trent’s cousin dies unexpectedly, Trent is the only relative left to care for his two small children. She needs a nanny fast.
All Wendy Darling ever wanted was a family. When her fiancée left her and cleared out her bank account, she didn’t think her heart would ever mend. After years abroad as a nanny, she returns to Britain to finish her degree and finally get her life back on track.
Wendy falls in love with the children, but her heart aches at the distance between Trent and the kids. Wendy’s determined to show Trent how fulfilling family life can be, and soon love begins to blossom. But will Trent have the courage to embrace her desire for Wendy and her unexpected family?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
