Although I don't read a lot of books in the romance genre these days, Kathryn Freeman books are definitely my not so guilty pleasure! Kathryn's books are always guaranteed to entertain and The New Guy does just that.

We meet Sam Huxton when she is drowning her sorrows in the pub after her Grandad's funeral. Feeling the need to talk about her beloved 'Grumps' she turns to the man next to her at the bar. Ryan Black is just trying to have a quiet pint but Sam won't be put off, despite his rudeness and clear annoyance at her chewing his ear off. As Sam continues to talk and the alcohol begins to flow, she has the crazy idea to have a one-night stand with her nameless bar buddy. After all, she'll never see him again after tonight...until he walks into her office tomorrow as her newest employee! Ryan is equally mortified; it's his first day at his new job and he's already slept with the boss!

With so many misunderstandings, insecurities and raging hormones Sam and Ryan attempt to work together but their mutual attraction and memories of an amazing one-night stand keep pushing them together. Aside from the romance aspect of the story, there is an excellent storyline of Sam trying to keep her business afloat in spite of her ex-boyfriend's efforts to destroy her with his rival business. Sam's employees are more family and friends than co-workers though, so their strength is very much in their togetherness.

Ryan also has a very good storyline which shows a different side to him. He's very anti-social and snappy but he has a lot of emotional baggage to carry in the form of his alcoholic mother and a sister who will barely speak to him. It just shows how we can make a judgement on someone from first impressions but when you dig beneath the surface there is so much more going on.

So very entertaining, The New Guy is pure escapism in these troubled times. Kathryn Freeman writes such multi-layered stories that continue to surprise me; The New Guy makes for addictive reading as, with there being so many different strands to the story, I was desperate to find out what was going to happen in every single one of them. An immensely enjoyable and delightful read, The New Guy gets 5 sparkly stars from me!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Uproariously funny, brilliantly witty and wonderfully romantic, The New Guy is a delicious and delightful rom-com readers will absolutely adore. Fans of Zara Stoneley and Jane Linfoot are simply going to devour Kathryn Freeman’s flirty and feel-good new novel, The New Guy.

Sam Huxton is not the kind of woman who has one-night stands, but grief stricken after the death of her beloved grandfather, she finds herself throwing caution to the wind and indulging in one too many glasses of champagne at a bar in town – and in a steamy night of passion with a man she’s just met! The hot guy at the bar was tall, dark, brooding and so sexy that Sam ended up inviting him back to her house for a hook up she certainly will not forget in a hurry. Sam had no idea what her one night lover’s name was, but that didn’t matter because for a couple of hours she could forget all about her problems, her worry and her grief and just lose herself in some meaningless and scorching sex. Sam never thought she would see this guy ever again – until she goes to work the following morning and finds out that he’s her new employee!

Ryan Black is a man of few words. Not somebody who is at ease in a crowded room chatting and laughing with others, he much prefers his own company and loves nothing more than locking himself up in a dark room and losing himself in his work. A man of principles and honour, he had had no qualms about walking out of his last job after he had been ordered to do something he didn’t agree with, but finding himself unemployed, broke and desperate means that he cannot afford to lose his latest job. He was lucky enough to find employment after his last job ended in disaster and he is adamant that he will not let anything or anyone cost him this second chance – not even the fact that his boss is the woman he slept with last night.

Sam and Ryan are both adults and both swear to be professional at the place of work, but the red-hot passion and sizzling attraction that started in the bedroom looks set to carry over into the boardroom! As their feelings for one another escalate, will Sam and Ryan find themselves giving into temptation yet again? Or was their one-night stand just a one-off never to be repeated again?

Kathryn Freeman writes the most engaging and enjoyable romantic comedies and she is on outstanding form with The New Guy. Hilarious, uplifting and packing plenty of emotional punch, The New Guy is a wonderful tale full of brilliant characters readers will laugh and cry with and find themselves cheering for as they find themselves completely and utterly caught up in this terrific romantic comedy.

Zingy, sassy and sparkling, Kathryn Freeman’s The New Guy is a must-read guaranteed to provide a boost to even the darkest and most dismal of days!

I really enjoyed this read. It was a bit of Will they won’t they. Sam a CEO of a company gets very drunk in a bar and meets a very good looking dark eyes man called Ryan.
After a night of drunken passion Sam is relieved that it was only a 1 night stand and that she won’t be seeing this man anytime soon. That is until she turns up to work on Monday morning with a banging hangover and is introduced to the newest staff member none other than Ryan.( mr one night stand himself)
Add a few complications, past relationships, fear and emotions and you have a recipe for a great read.
Highly recommended
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I adore a good British romance book and this book delivered. And the banter 👍🏻👏🏻 Such a refreshing book when compared to some other new releases lately.

If you are looking for a real man following in love with a strong woman character then this book is for you!

Don’t get me wrong - I love a good romance that takes you away from your real-life problems - Amen. But this time I loved reading a romance that totally could happen to anyone in real life.

Not that I have picked up any one night stands….. Or a CEO of a company… but its the dialogue... Its what the characters go through … its how they weather the storm together that made it more REAL.
-------Sassiest character - Ryan---------

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The New Guy was pretty cute. I didn't think I needed something like this until I dove into it. Doesn't help that all I've seen are rainy days and I'm forever cooped up in a house.

In it, you will meet Sam and Ryan. They just happen to meet a bar one day and of course things get frisky fast. Both think that it's going to be a one night stand but man.. they were both wrong. They were honestly cute and everything throughout the entire book. I loved how even though they were crazy attracted to one another and had developed hardcore feelings - they still tried to keep their distance.

Long story short, it didn't happen. In the end, they deserved one another and earned their little piece of happiness. I will have to look out for my next book by this author!

I started reading this before bed last night because I was in the mood for a romance, but I quickly found out it wasn't going to be for me and DNFd it. The main character was very pushy and I really didn't appreciate her not respecting the love interest's boundaries or her lack of taking his disinterest as an answer.

*Firstly apologies for the delay in this review*



Sam doesnt do one night, but with a broken heart - a death to mourn and a major drama within her business. Maybe one night is what she needs. No names, nothing more - just one night with the brooding man she has been talking at at the bar. (Yes i did mean at - he wasnt the conversation type)



The problem is, that guy - is the new guy that has been hired to help fix a major problem in the company she runs and owns. Sam hadnt planned on seeing Ryan again yet here he was & the tension is undeniable. But she has vowed to never mix business and pleasure again - but maybe outside of work things can be different?



I loved this, it was a real will they wont they kind of read. I enjoyed following them on this journey as they are both polar opposites. Sam is feisty, strong willed and basically a bad ass boss lady. Ryan has had his issues but is more the quiet type with a bit sensitivity hidden beneath it all. The relationship between the pair was fantastic to watch as it developed. It was sizzling but it was fun - it was unique and most of all it was real. This is a great read. We follow both of them as they try to battle their inner turmoils and its nice to read it from both perspectives.

Sam Huxton meets an attractive guy in a bar and decides on the spur of the moment to have some fun. A one-night stand is not something she has done before, but the undeniable attraction she feels for this handsome stranger overrides her hesitation. However, fate has a fickle way of interfering and so imagine Sam’s horror when it turns out that the new guy she has just employed to help turn her technology business around, turns out to be, none other than the hot guy from her one-night stand.

What then follows is a delightful ‘will they, won’t they’ rom-com which has all the angst of a powerful work based attraction, along with the undeniable sizzle of passion which seems to smoulder every time Sam and the new guy meet up. Sparks fly, jealousies fester and emotions run high in a story which entertains from start to finish. I really enjoyed reading the insightful descriptions of running a modern day technology company but it is in the developing relationship between Sam and the new guy where the story really starts to take off. I loved both characters and wanted everything to work out for them, of course, whether it does, or not, is something you must discover for yourselves.

Sometimes a story comes along at just the right time, I’m always convinced that stories find you rather than the other way round, and most definitely The New Guy had everything I needed at this moment in time. It gave me such a warm glow, and more importantly, it made me smile, which is testament to the author’s undeniable skill at weaving realistic emotion into every word.

The New Guy has everything we have come to expect from this talented author. It’s warm and witty, wise and wonderful. Sizzling with passion one minute, filled with heart wrenching emotion the next, there is no doubt that this latest story is the author writing at her absolute best.

The New Guy is the first book I have read from Kathryn Freeman and it will not be the last. I was hooked from the beginning. I feel like so many romance books have the male lead as the boss and the female as an assistant of some sort. I love that this book switches it up! Ryan and Sam have great chemistry - you can really feel it coming off the page. If you are looking for a good romance, pick this one up today!

4☆ A Light hearted, Entertaining, Witty, Contemporary Romance

The New Guy is a light hearted Contemporary romance that's Fun, Witty, with cheeky banter.
​
Sam had just laid her grandad to rest and is drowning her grief in champagne.
When a brooding stranger finds himself next to Sam at the bar.

After a skin full of alcohol and plenty of sexual chemistry the two fall into bed. A one night stand that is sure to bite them both in the bum!

You see unbeknown to them both, they are about to get a huge shock when, Sam CEO of her company Privacy Solutions, finds out that sexy stranger, she just had an amazing night with, just so happens to be Ryan, the new software developer at her workplace!
Oops... awkward!

But will they mix business with pleasure and reignite that sexual chemistry or was it just an alcohol fuelled one night stand?

I really enjoyed The New Guy it was a fun and entertaining read, at times a lil predictable but that's not always a bad thing.
The witty banter and sexual tension between Ryan and Sam was built up nicely, although Ryan is arrogant towards Sam and I couldn't see why she would continue to pursue on the basis of chemistry & Intrigue.
Overall a fun Contemporary Romance, that has a dash of romantic suspense, flirty banter, chemistry and a lil bit of drama and angst.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Sweet premise, cute characters, but this book went on and on. It was so long! We could have gotten around to all the main points in about 100 fewer pages. Sam was an interesting heroine with equal parts drive and low confidence that really keep the plot moving along.

The New Guy
by Kathryn Freeman

Sam is in a quiet London pub drowning her sorrows and she spies a strikingly rugged strong grumpy silent type at the bar in a unhappy state although slightly mellowed by alcohol. She thinks the rugged hunk has possibilities for a a one night stand though this is so not her style even if he is a tad rude! It turns out Ryan is not at all as outer appearance would lead you to believe. They end their momentous one night stand no details exchanged not even names! Next day new guy starts at her company 'the saviour programmer' to save them all. You guessed it! Ryan. The then story begins

Fabulous! How I laughed and cried reading this book. In a well written way it unfolds shows how everything and nearly everyone has secrets. Good and bad. All the different personalities in this book are very colourful just like life. Lovely book not too heavy to read.

Definitely look for Kathryn’s future publications.

This is an entertaining romcom which takes a tongue in cheek look at office romances. On the face of it there are plenty of plot cliches but I didn't mind that. I always enjoy books which let you into the male perspective and Ryan's insecurities, which he tried so hard to hide, gave him more depth and back story. In some ways, Sam is harder to empathise with. She is the super competent company CEO, the brains behind the company, but I thought that the insights you got into her family helped to flesh out her character.

Kathryn Freeman always writes with an enjoyable, easy style which leads you through the story. There are some amusing secondary characters and of course, a real contrast between Sunshine Sam and the brooding Ryan. This is an enjoyable and quick read and lovers of romcoms will speed thorugh it with a smile.

Thanks to the publishers for a copy of the book

Imagine the horror of having your very first one-night stand with a rough looking guy you met in a pub, the day you buried your grandfather only for hot guy to turn out to be your newest employee, the one you desperately need to help you design an upgrade to your successful phone app. Well that's what happens to our heroine Sam Huxton, she has a wonderful night, no-names, no pack-drill and then the following morning discover that tall, dark and brooding is none other than her latest programmer Ryan Black.

This is an interesting modern twist, this time it is our heroine Sam who is the wealthy boss with the expensive car and flat while Ryan comes from a less wealthy background and drives a 30 year old car.

There's romance, secret affairs, industrial espionage, interfering friends and family angst all mixed together in a fun, easy-to-read sparkling romance. Fall in love with grumpy Ryan and pretend you understand anything about app design and coding LOL. For those of us looking for a little escape from the troubles of today this definitely fits the bill.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A role-reversal twist on the traditional office romance

A 3.5-star story for me (I really wish we could award half stars so there’s more definition!).

We have a good premise for a reversal twist on the traditional alpha-male CEO/smart/sexy/nerdy/awesome worker bee who turns everything upside down. Our heroine, Sam, is our CEO. Reeling from a horrible personal loss (grandfather’s death), she goes off the rails in the form of a wild one-night stand with the stranger sitting next to her at a bar. A good setup, our hero Ryan goes with the flow, and he’s got some damage of his own. Usually an excellent hook for me, though I did feel early on that Ryan may have come across a bit TOO much of a broody, damaged jerk.

Fast forward to the next morning and viola, Sam is introduced to her newest employee...Ryan. They had a fantastic night with amazing chemistry, but now the reality of their positions and the fact that they WILL in fact be seeing each other again has hit them in the face. Reason prevails and no matter what they thought they felt, it’ll never work…

We had an explosive start to their physical relationship, tempered by the slow burn of the emotional one as they muddle through their lives and their blossoming relationship. At this point, I felt that the pacing could have moved along a little more quickly. Continued miscommunications and both Sam and Ryan being insecure and wounded has them hesitating and second-guessing over and over…

Around the ¾ mark, things picked up well. We learn more about Ryan’s past and start to see him in a new light. It took awhile though, there was a lot of emphasis on his damage that lasted much farther into the storyline that I would have expected. While I appreciated the gender-swap on the roles here, I’m sad to say that I just didn’t relate to Sam. I expected more from her as the company CEO – strength, independence, fierceness, self-worth – what have you – that I just wasn’t getting during my read. I wasn’t as invested in her HEA as I wanted to be, which was a hurdle for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC copy of this book, for which I’m voluntarily providing an honest review.

My general rating rationale:

3 – Perfectly fine story, perhaps some minor editorial errors. Entertaining. Always finish. Typically with this rating I feel like there could have been MORE – be it believably/relatability, character development, internal dialogue, explanations or depth, richness to the overall storyline, etc. May lose a bit of engagement here and there but never consider the DNF.
4 – A very good book. Highly engaging, well developed characters, a great plot, relatable characters, keeps you invested to the last page. Would recommend to reader friends.
5 – Can’t say enough amazing things, loved the H and h, fabulously detailed plot, quick hook, intense investment in both story and characters (often extended to supporting characters as well) throughout the book. Will tell anyone who will listen that they should read it.

Sam Huxton is the CEO of an app developing company. Reeling from the death of her beloved Grumps, she stops in a bar on her way home from his funeral. There she meets someone who is reluctant to talk to her but they still hit it off and go to her home for what they assume will be a one night stand. However, it turns out he's the new guy starting in her company as the software developer. His role and skills is essential if the company is to fight off competition from her ex-partner's new firm so romance really isn't on the agenda. With magnetic attraction between them and their fantastic one night stand, will they be able to resist each other in future?

There are plenty of twists and turns in this contemporary romance. He nicknames her Sunshine Sam, but she more often resembles Sulky Sam IMHO, though Ryan too has his sulky moments especially when he takes comments the wrong way. My favourite character was definitely Lucas. He's a brash, colourful, cheery chap who seems to bring a smile to everyone's face and really seems to understand Ryan better than most.

There's business rivalry, deadlines to meet, problems to solve, family dramas, broken relationships and more as the story progresses. It has a fast paced start but slows down considerably as the different threads weave together. If you're looking for a story that isn't going to tax you in any way, a lighthearted read, this is probably a good one for you.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

Imagine having a one night stand, not swapping numbers only to find the next day that he’s your new employee.
This has definitely made a fantastic plot, I have loved the characters in this book. They have made me laugh and smile on numerous occasions.
This is a fantastic romance story which I have loved from start to finish. This has definitely been a good read to end a busy day with and switch off.
The first few chapters are great at setting up the plot so that the reader has to continue reading to find out what happens.
A fantastic read by a fantastic author.

Well this book was sunshine on a cloudy day! The perfect escape from all the coronavirus news, social distancing, safer at home orders, and the politics. Kathryn Freeman has written a delightful story that made me swoon and smile. Once upon a time Sam and Ryan meet at a bar. Both of them have had a little too much to drink, both of them are a little lonely, and both of them are certain that they will never meet again. There is a definite attraction, but there nothing alike, so one night of great sex is all that there is in the plans. That is until... dun dun dun Ryan shows up at Sam’s work the next day and is her new employee. *awkward* Sam is NOT going to have another office relationship, been there, done that, have the T-shirt. So even though Sam is still crazy attracted to Ryan and as she gets to know him better he becomes more and more attractive, she is keeping her distance. I’m sure you know where this is going... that truly is the comfort of romance you always know no matter what the journey there will always be a happily ever after.

Both Sam and Ryan were likable characters although they both frustrated me many times. They both had some major insecurities that they needed to get a major grip on. I also really liked the secondary characters especially Sam and Ryan‘s coworkers. I have to give a special shout out to Lucas loved his wit and wardrobe! This was the feel-good story that I really needed to brighten my day.

This book in emojis ☀️ 🍾 📱 🏊🏼‍♂️ 🎀 🎉

*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is a new author for me. The writing is good. The story is ok. The main character goes a little overboard I trying to prove she can run a business and the introvert tries to hard not to show he’s insecure. It was slightly slow with a bit too much back and forth of the same story without enough forward movement.

I’m not going to lie, I struggled to get into this book but once I did I was hooked
I loved both Sam and Ryan, they both have their difficulties and their own insecurities but they also came through to be stronger
Ryan really struggles with his past and because he isn’t as wealthy as Sam nor is his past and family life as perfect as he believes hers is. This is a recurring theme throughout the book and I actually sympathised with Ryan as many people, me included have felt like this at some point of another
Sam is determined to put on a mask and appear to the world that everything is ok, even when things aren’t. She is also crazy smart and very good at coming up with ideas
Sams company is an app designer and this is something that I never really thought about before, what actually goes into something that we use everyday, how hard people have to work behind the scenes to make everything work and it was really interesting to see. It also looks at what happens if someone else has a similar idea to you and the stress behind trying to come up with a solution and something that makes your app unique
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a slightly unconventional story with good characters, a brilliant concept and company and sections that will make you laugh out loud