Fed up with her romantic and professional disappointments, a strong-willed art expert decides to strike out on her own, packing up her London life to open her dream gallery in her hometown.

Verdict: well-paced, solidly satisfying, with endearing characters flawed just enough to avoid clichés.

Ever feel like everything you’ve done has amounted to nothing, despite working hard and having reasonably good luck in the lottery of family and friends? If so, then you know where Katharine finds herself in this book. (If not, why are you even reading this blog dedicated to escapism? Seriously, share your story in the comments; I’d love to know.)

A competent workaholic passed over one too many times by the boys’ club at her employer’s gallery, the stars seemingly align for Katharine to go home to Sheffield, where her artsy family and the new adventure of launching her own venture await. And this is no glossy montage of paint swatches – the author does not gloss over the groundwork and elbow grease (and life savings) our heroine puts on the line to put up that Katharine Patterson Gallery sign above the door.

And if along the way, she meets a talented, standoffish artist who might be the antidote to her latest London lawyer heartbreak? So much the better, because she’s learning firsthand that no one leaping off a precipice can truly go it alone.

TLDR: A strong leading lady with a will of steel and a lovingly eccentric family give this love story guts.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was everything I expect in a light romance. Heroine full of doubt, awful man versus wonderful man.
The book follows Katherine who has been working her butt off at a gallery only to be continually taken advantage over. She takes an opportunity to strike out on her own. Her man-friend - who wants labels right?! - is another who has been undervaluing Katherine. Could the enigmatic Kit, who on first meet is brusque, egotistical and just a bit good looking, be the one to build Katherine back up or can she do it herself with a bit of help from her friends.
It reminded me in style and writing of Katie Fforde. That light romance with the perfect characters and easy to fall into plot. Sure it was predictable as all good romances are but its a recipe that works so why not!

Not entirely what I expected. I thought this would be your normal, fun filled, rom-com – easy enough to read, enjoyable and light, and it was but then it as so much more too.

Katie is a fab character and I like that we really got to know her well early on. She is strong and independent, coming from a good family and a Dad who made me laugh, although unintentionally at times. He is intent on making a match with Kit, even if this seems a mile off from ever happening!

Katie and Kit completely get on each others last nerve and just clash, but there is a spark. With definite enemies to lovers vibes, Accidentally in Love, our characters work through their issues and things move in more a romantic direction.

A great little pick me up of a book, a recommended read from me!

I really enjoyed this fun read from Belinda Missen.

The story is about Katherine who wants to open her own art galley and is not bothered about finding love but then she meets Kit. I must say that I loved the banter between Kit and Katherine. I loved the pace of the story and it was a very easy, fun lighthearted read. Overall a fab read for fans of rom-coms.

I really enjoyed this, it was a nice light relaxing read. Definitely one to curl up in your pjs with a cuppa and read, I will definitely be researching this author more.
It shows the strength of friendship and family.

Belinda Missen has written a fun and enjoyable romantic romp guaranteed to brighten up even the most dismal of days: Accidentally in Love.

Katharine Patterson has decided to throw all caution to the wind and edge ever close to making her dream a reality. So, in less than a week, she has quit her job, moved back home and broken up with the guy she thought was The One. Romance is simply not going to be a priority for her anymore. She plans to focus all of her time, energies and efforts into opening up her own art gallery and not worry about boyfriends, emotions or romantic entanglements. Love is simply not on the agenda for Katharine and nothing and nobody is going to get in the way of her ambition to own her own gallery. But the best laid plans do have a habit of going awry as Katharine discovers when she crosses paths with a handsome artist who could well make her question her resolve to keep romance on the backburner…

Kit is a talented local artist who might be stubborn, aggravating, infuriating and quite possibly the most handsome man Katherine has ever clapped eyes on. Katherine is not interested in embarking on an affair with somebody who drives her insane. Yet, the more time she spends in his company, the more she finds herself drawn to the man who has turned her entire world upside down.

Falling in love might have been off the cards for Katharine, but will she end up letting her fears and insecurities cost her the love of a lifetime? Can she find a way to make all of her dreams come true? Or will she find herself torn between her head and her heart? One thing is for sure: falling in love has never been so complicated…or so exhilarating!

Belinda Missen’s Accidentally in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that aims straight for the heart and hits bullseye! A delicious read guaranteed to put a smile on even the most jaded and cantankerous of faces, Accidentally in Love is a brilliant tale of putting your heart on line, taking chances and falling madly in love in the most unlikely of circumstances that is full of witty banter, rib-tickling humour, explosive chemistry and uplifting romance!

Witty, warm-hearted and wonderful, Belinda Missen’s latest novel Accidentally in Love is sure to keep the autumnal blues away!

Y’all this one was so cute!! I really loved the characters and the plot was fantastic. A quick read but such a fun one as well!

3.5 STARS

This book was pretty good and also pretty standard. Standard feisty heroine. Standard grumpy hero. Standard clingy ex-boyfriend. Standard family dynamics. Standard best friend from college. There's just nothing new or innovative here.

And the story is pretty darn slow. Just collections of daily tasks that have very minimal conflict. Yes, everything is moving towards an event, but it's all very mundane and we only get unsubtle hints at some conflict to come. I mean, we get a healthy dose of written out, but mostly uneventful trips to buy groceries. Is it crap? No. But it's not great either.

It's all very NICE. And, honestly, I want more than "nice". 1998-2020 has been years filled with romances that are shattering the standard. We're seeing story lines we've never seen before, main characters who are racially diverse, neuro-diverse, physically diverse, and emotionally diverse.

Some readers may still crave this kind of romance, like easy-to-watch Hallmark Christmas movies in December. But I am now expecting MORE from Contemporary Romance.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Belinda Missen for an advanced review copy of Accidentally in Love. I really did love this book and raced through it in a day. And although I loved this book I was left with a slight bitter taste afterwards as to how Katherine was treated by her best friend, new and old beau and that somehow she made out to be a terrible person?! I found that incredibly frustrating that Katherine who was incredibly intelligent, strong willed and witty could become so self doubting. I must reiterate that I did love this book and would thoroughly recommend asides from a small portion that left me feeling infuriated.

This is the story of Katharine and Kit, two characters who are similar and different in their own respective ways. It is told over 33 Chapters and from Katharine's point of view, that will go by too quickly for the reader. Wrapped up in the story the chapters will fly by as the reader finds themselves addicted to the story.
From the outset this book is intriguing and engaging both of which ensure that the reader is kept interested. One of the many things to love about this book is the many different character interactions. Although the main characters are Katherine and Kit, there interactions with their friends and family are simply brilliant.
Thoroughout the book you can not only see the character developments but also how the different relationships change and grow. The reader will find themselves not only invested in what happens to Kit and Katherine but also the other relationships that show up through out the book.
Overall this is a fun and quirky story that is engaging and interesting. The reader will find themselves going from tears to laughter in a blink of an eye, infested in every detail. Whether those tears are happy or sad, well you will have to give it a read and find out. This book will be certain to leave the reader wanting more from Belinda Missen.

I really enjoy the book but there were a few things that bothered me, some of which are very popular within the genre romance and a pet peeve of mine so I try not to judge books too harshly when they happen. In this case I am because it just felt too rushed.

The art gallery setting really interested me when I read the synopsis so I was sad that there weren’t that many scenes in it. On the other hand, I loved all the art discussions and innuendos between the two MCs. The banter was hilarious and flirty which is my favourite kind!

What really bothered me was that the characters decide to get married after only knowing each other for a month. That threw me off. I don’t understand why so many romances do that. I understand that people love happy endings, but getting married is not the endgame for everyone and it’s okay to end a book with them together without them getting engaged or married. Especially when they’ve only met a month prior to that. It’s rushed and it feels forced.

The pacing also felt a bit off and start dragged a little. The protagonist hadn’t moved to the countryside by the 30% mark (more or less).

There wasn’t much romance most of the book but I am okay with that. I much prefer the banter between characters than sappy moments.

Overall it was enjoyable and a quick read had I been less busy this month.

I absolutely loved it!!!!! Quick read and full of goodness on every page. Highly recommend this one.

I was not impressed by this book. It’s well written but I found the story very boring, I skimmed it. The story didn’t draw me in, I didn’t find Katherine likeable or interesting. This one wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for an honest review!

Accidentally in Love is a sweet and sassy rom com with likable characters.

Katherine Patterson is an art curator at a job where she’s not valued, trapped in a “semi-relationship” with a man who just won’t commit. She quits her job, ditches the guy, and moves home to pursue her dream of opening an art gallery. She’s not looking for anything other than a successful opening. Then she meets Kit Dunbar, a local artist who shakes up her plan and gets on her nerves. The problem is, she can’t stop thinking about him.

Missen’s novel follows Katherine on her journey of learning to trust herself and accidentally finding “the one”. The book is peppered with some truly sweet characters who wholeheartedly support Katherine. I enjoyed reading about her dad, her step-mother Fiona and her brother, Adam. I found the other characters to be selfish and unlikable.

Her relationship with Kit is sharp and witty, filled with banter that has you rooting for them from the start! I enjoyed the plot along with the art aspects that propelled the story.

I found the ending to be rushed and a bit fairytale-esque with everything wrapping up rather quickly. Aside from that, I’d recommend this book for anyone looking for a light, breezy romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Accidentally In Love by Belinda Missen is a heartwarming story of two opposites falling in love and upending their lives in the process.

Katherine quits her job, leaves London, and moves to Sheffield, her home, to open an art gallery. In the process, she also breaks up with her boyfriend who she thought was the one. Back home, she meets Kit (Christopher), a handsome, talented, and a stubborn local artist. Will Katherine succeed in her plan of opening the gallery? Will her broken heart be healed? Read the book to find out.

This was an engaging romantic comedy for me. I adored all the characters in this book. Everyone contributed their part in moving the story forward. Katharine's father loved her, and it was evident in his support for every decision of hers. Fiona, her father's partner, is brilliant too. Loving as a mother, insightful as an experienced artist, and empathetic as a BFF, she stood like a rock for Katherine. So did Adam, her brother. The relationship between the siblings was endearing.

Katherine is a talented woman determined to carve out her future. I could relate to Katharine's struggle to find a job she loves, not a job she slaves away at. She may be a bit snobbish, though.

Christopher, on the other hand, is crusty on the edges but is a marshmallow inside. I loved how Katherine peeled away his layers to reveal the Kit that would be any woman's dream husband.

I enjoyed the slow-burn romance and the witty banter between Kate and Christopher which is full of sexual innuendoes. I loved how they tolerated each other's foibles and challenged each other to be a better person.

Moreover, I loved the climax which elevated the book to the level of 4 stars. I loved how two opposite characters resolved their differences and fell for each other.

Accidentally In Love justifies its tagline 'laugh-out-loud rom-com'. The book was humorous from start to finish, albeit it did have its moments of melodrama, tear works, and family group hugs. However, it was not laugh-out-loud for me in some places due to references to London based jokes which I, being an Indian, couldn't understand.

Also, in some places, there wasn't a proper transitioning between scenes. Scenes would change in the middle of the paragraph which left a jarring impact. It may be because it is an ARC, so, in the final copy, this may not be the case.

I wholeheartedly recommend Accidentally In Love by Belinda Missen to lovers of rom-com.

I enjoyed this book. Thank you for allowing me to read this arc. It was adorable, likeable , believable and just downright a fun read. There were times when I bones with Katharine and times where I didn’t but that’s what makes a good character (in my opinion). I look forward to reading more books by belinda.

* Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the gifted copy in exchange for this review

Like a good old British romcom, Accidentally in Love had me feeling warm and fuzzy. There's a classic boy-meets-girl arc, but with an initial distance between the two. With a focus on the art world, Katharine is a gallery curator who's under-appreciated and overlooked by male counterparts in her London gallery role, so she decides enough is enough and up roots and move back to Sheffield and set up her own gallery, which is no mean feat. Surrounded by her family, and the place she grew up in she meets her not-at-first love interest Kit, who is a complicated tortured artist type who's clearly misundertstood in a 'Hugh Grant' style way.

There's a menagerie of excellent characters - stubborn and determined Katharine, her eccentric family unit - including Dad, step-mum Fiona and lawyer brother Adam - broody artist Kit, and an ex-boyfriend with poor timing which keep things interesting and believable. The relationship between Katharine and Kit was fantastic - they was sparring, innuendos and dry quick wit, basically my dream flirting style that makes them more slow-burn and 'hate-to-love' aka one of my favourite troupes.

The plot is believable, there's hilarious moments and also heart wrenching instances of clarity, and there's a bunch of characters who have problems and flaws just like us. I loved the insight into the art world and what is exactly involve in a gallery opening, and commissioning artists and it provided a great backdrop for the romance - also that blue paint smear moment, SWOON

As many other reviews have said, the story plods along in a realistic way until the ending and then it is RACECAR SPEED, super rushed and had me feeling a little deflated. I would've liked it to either drag out a little longer or not rush full speed ahead off a cliff.

Katherine quits her job and breaks up with her boyfriend before deciding to move back north to Sheffield to open her own gallery. Along the way she is introduced to Christopher who her dad thinks would be perfect for her but who is very careful about hiding his feelings
I went through stages with Katherine, at times I really liked her as a character but at other times I was just so sick of her wining that I started to hate her. I respected her decision to leave London and move back north to do something she is passionate about and it was really interesting to read about her experiences upending her life and setting up her gallery
I would have loved to hear at least some of the story from Christopher’s point of view, he is so closed off as a character and I know I would have enjoyed the book so much more if I saw Katherine through his eyes
This book asks the questions about what is important in life, is it friends, family or work? Is it being with someone who you adore? Or a mix of everything? And seeing things develop in Katherine’s life made me think about my own as well
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an unconventional romance with big life changes for the characters and them learning about themselves

I read this for a blog tour.

This is a fun rom com about moving on and then meeting the most infuriating person ever, and whoops, falling in love!

Anyone who loves the enemies to lovers trope will love this. Well written and highly enjoyable.

Perfect for curling up on the sofa and giggling when the weather can't decide what season it is, I recommend some decent chocolate to snack on while reading.

I read Lethal in a Kilt, Book 7 in this series as a standalone and loved the delightful MacTaggert family so much I wanted to start from the beginning. With Lachlan and Erica’s four-week pact of hot sex with no ties, how could I resist?

Erica doesn’t have long before her life as she sees it is over, so why not have a month-long fling with the sexy Scot next door who will return to Scotland? No personal questions are allowed so he won’t find out about her secret. She has nothing to lose, right? Tell that to her heart. At least she has her dog, Casey. He’s the one male, besides her dad, who she can count on.

Lachlan and Erica don’t have a lot in common other than they have been betrayed by people they cared about. Erica’s determination to stay positive and have a good time despite her ill-fated future is commendable but bleak. She’s not the type to have a casual relationship, but her life is what it is. Lachlan’s unwavering plans to woo Erica by surprising her with simple and extremely romantic gestures confuse Erica to the extent where she bears her feelings. But he’s sticking to the deal and will return to Scotland. Who is she to want a future with Lachlan? She won’t be free to enjoy her life.

Overall, I am elated to recommend this lovely story with a unique plot, a strong heroine, and a seductive Scot with a lust for romance. If you enjoy big sexy Scots, pick up this series, it won’t disappoint.