I knew I was going to love this book from its opening pages – as Ruby bemoans her troubled love life while working alongside Kim in her Sheffield flower shop, I was already laughing out loud and immediately took to both characters, looking forward to finding out their stories.

The book takes off at breakneck pace with Ruby’s trip to London. First there’s a brush with a grumpy businessman, then an encounter with a chatty young man on his way to the London Eye to propose to his girlfriend – desperately romantic Ruby is enchanted by his story, but disaster strikes when he leaves the train holding her mobile phone and leaving her with the flashy engagement ring. But all is not lost – Curtis (he’s the grumpy businessman) and Ruby join forces, remain together as they spend their day in the capital, Curtis attending a high-powered meeting with Ruby in tow as his “assistant”, Curtis tagging along for Ruby’s rather more unusual appointment, but their plan to catch up with the romantic stranger at the Eye is doomed to failure.

But it’s the start of an uneasy friendship between the pair, as Ruby agrees to be Curtis’ part-time assistant – she’s considerably less scatty than she at first appears – and so begins a quite wonderful relationship between two very different people. Ruby constantly wears her heart on her sleeve – she’s kind, funny, full of warmth, unashamedly romantic, and has a tendency to speak first and engage her brain a little later. Curtis is the total opposite – he’s logical, analytical, a little (actually, a lot) stiff and businesslike, struggles with real life and any hint of emotion – but his alliance with Ruby is about to change him beyond recognition. The quest for the owner of the ring continues, but the story’s main focus becomes the relationship between them – and I adored every single moment.

But there’s a second thread to the story, as we follow Kim – she’s a character who won my heart from first encounter too, a mother figure to Ruby, warm and caring, but carrying her own secrets and sadness. Romance comes into her life from an unexpected quarter – a really lovely second chance one, and I so hoped she’d get her happy ending, but there are certainly some seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way. And in an attempt to stave off loneliness, she decides to take on something of a challenge – an over exuberant and slightly insane dog called Boomerang – and I really enjoyed every moment of their journey together.

I enjoyed this book so much – I read it from cover to cover in one lovely sitting, frequently laughing out loud but sometimes wiping away a tear or two, entirely wrapped up in the story. The author has a particularly special touch with dialogue, and Ruby’s exchanges with Curtis are simply wonderful – I loved watching the way her quirkiness slowly won him over, warming his heart and softening his edges, becoming part of his life as their friendship slowly turns into the loveliest slow-burn romance. Emotionally, the author has the perfect touch – there’s a lot more depth to the story than you might expect amid all the sparkling humour, those touches of life’s ups and downs and moments of sadness that keep things very real. The next laugh is never far away, but the humour is all quite perfectly judged – and sometimes the funniest moments are the little touches that take you by surprise, like the hitherto undiscovered joy of walking through double doors with an enthusiastic accompanying “ta-da” (must try it soon!). The whole book is immaculately plotted and gloriously convoluted, with the quest to return the ring running throughout along with a multitude of other intriguing small story lines – but I thought the absolute joy of this book was in its characters, every one of them perfectly rounded and developed, and I entirely took every one of them to my heart.

This really was the perfect summer read – beautifully written, both touching and hilarious, warm and uplifting, unashamedly romantic, filled with twists and turns that keep you entirely engaged in the story – and I loved every single moment.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reading the blurb, I knew from the get-go that I will enjoy this. Unsurprisingly, I did and I would like to thank the publisher and the author for blessing me with the opportunity to indulge myself in this very enjoyable romance.
I love how the protagonist has a big heart with her desire to help and view the good in others. A very well written fiction with lovable characters with just a bit of everything. I absolutely love the humour that was evident throughout the novel. Now it just makes me wish that I could meet a cutie on a train and fall in love. Gah very enjoyable, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this.

This was a brilliant book by Osborne and I loved every page of it! The characters were so interesting, the story was so entertaining and, for 400-odd pages, I read with a smile on my face. What’s not to love?

I have become a massive fan of Osborne’s books over the last twelve months and was delighted to have the opportunity to read this one, especially with such an enticing cover! The book immediately grabbed me with the interesting scenario of Ruby, our protagonist, meeting a rather dishy stranger on the train to London. However, circumstances evolve when the stranger walks off with her mobile phone and forgets his engagement ring. Ruby is left with a fellow passenger, Curtis, as they debate how they can return the significant jewellery to its owner and reunite Ruby with her phone! What to do!

You might think a quick phone call to Ruby’s mobile would solve the problem. But, heady, spontaneous Ruby has not managed to remember her phone number. Several weird ex-boyfriends have led her to change her number so, of course, why should she remember it when everyone she knows has her number? On the other hand, passenger Curtis is so level-headed and serious that he cannot understand how Ruby has even managed to get to London! How could these characters possibly get along?

A series of events cause Ruby and Curtis’s paths to remain interlinked as the story follows not only their quest to reunite the ring with its owner, but Ruby and Curtis’s friendship developing. Curtis is definitely one of my favourite characters this year because he is so funny and clueless. Ruby’s presence intends to help Curtis be a bit more socially-aware but, my goodness, Osborne’s dialogue for this character had me properly laughing out loud. Curtis’s responses to flirtatious women are priceless and I think his character really added flavour to the story.

As I have come to expect from Osborne’s writing, the story isn’t just about romance and positive feeling. There is always an undercurrent of something more serious and sombre. In this case, it is not just Ruby and Curtis who have a sadder back story, but also the supporting characters of Kim and her acquaintances. This added more variety to the plot as we also follow Kim as her past comes back to haunt her. To be honest, I think the story would have worked wonderfully if it just featured Ruby and Curtis, but I liked Kim’s character and I was intrigued to see what her journey would be.

Osborne’s writing is like having a jolly good pair of slippers! I read this over a day because I was so hooked and entertained by the story. True, there are some sadder parts to the plot, but this is outweighed by the fantastic characters and witty dialogue. I could not imagine how Ruby and Curtis could work together because she is so bubbly and spontaneous, versus his calculating methods and socially-awkward manner. It shouldn’t work but it definitely provides entertainment!

If you have yet to sample any of Osborne’s books then, look no further! I highly recommend this one because it was so entertaining and immersive. If what I have written doesn’t persuade you, then maybe my unusually high volume of exclamation marks might do the trick!

With thanks to Avon books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ruby is like a breath of fresh air! When unexpected events have her meeting serious Curtis, you know things are going to take off in ways neither of them planned on. The story focused around Ruby but it also included snippets involving Kim, Ruby's boss/friend. Both of these ladies deserve a happily ever after and it was fun to see each figure out how to get what they deserve. The more I read, the more familiar this book seemed. Perhaps some of the scenarios reminded me of other similar stories because I don't think I've read this one before. Am pleased with how everything turned out and look forward to reading more by this author because her writing is fun, refreshing and brings a smile to one's face.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Ruby is such a lovely character. Tired of her attempts to find love, she is looking to move on to another stage in her life. What is clear is that she is looking for love and family. She is a mixture of down to earth common sense and then at other times, utter gullibility. Her desire for love leads her to shut her eyes to what you the reader can see all along. The absolute triumph for me is the character of Curtis who has his own perspective on life. Despite his apparent inability to empathise with others and his total lack of social awareness, he is intelligent and totally without malice. You see that he is kind and caring. He just needs to be nudged in the right direction...

I also enjoyed the side-story of Kim, the owner of the florist shop where Ruby works. They have a genuine friendship and she too has a heart of gold. There were some hilarious moments in the story. I loved Ruby's visits to the local care home. This is an uplifting read full of wit and humour. The darker parts of the characters' lives were not shied away from but added to the heart of the story.

In short: A warm, witty, brilliant summer read!
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Loved this. What a heartwarming read. There’s a bit of everything here, but the romance doesn’t disappoint. I’d very much like to read more about these characters in the future. One of the rare instances where I missed the, when the book was over.

Loved it!!! Bella Osborne's books never disappoint and this has to be my favorite one. I enjoyed this book from the very start and wanted to work at the flower shop with Kim and Ruby. At first I didn't care for Curtis, but I believe he is the voice of reason for Ruby. Her choices in life are very questionable. Then again she dated a man who peed in her kettle. I would have never guessed the reason she was going to London. Do people really do that????? It seems completely unhygienic and creepy. Unfortunately, after watching an episode of Smothered, it's more common than I thought. I knew Kim was hiding something. Vince!!!! I have no words, but I immediately didn't trust him. Kim should have known something was up with the questions from the solicitor. I knew what was going to happen. I was truly shocked about Lewis. The best thing about him is he's the reason Ruby and Curtis met. Hayley was ridiculous with the way she treated Kim. She's an adult not a child. I loved Curtis. He was aloof about certain things, but was also sweet. Ruby and Curtis complimented each other. They had the best adventures with each other. She might not always make the best choices, but she is a wonderful friend and great person. Ruby's reaction to Dean was priceless. People never expect to be attacked with roses. I agree with Ruby that Clematis preferred over Chlamydia. That poor old guy. Curtis waking up to Seymour was the best. Who doesn't love a crossed-eye kitty!!!

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, writing style and characters- everything. I loved reading the whole book at once. I was sad to see it end and wanted to keep reading about Ruby, Curtis and Kim. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love Bella Osborne's books and this is one of my favourites so far. I really loved it and enjoyed it. It's the perfect book to read at this time of the year and it would be a great holiday book as it is easy to read and it is fun. The story is about a lovely woman called Ruby who finds great friendship in a unique and special man called Curtis. Ruby works in a florist with her friend Kim and they have a fun friendship and enjoy helping each other. Ruby and Kim have had their problems with love and romance in the past. Will they find their happily every afters? Read the book to find out! I thoroughly enjoyed this fun and uplifting summertime book and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Bella’s work for a little while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis of ‘The Promise Of Summer’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of fun and light hearted read that I have come to expect from Bella. I couldn’t wait to start reading so without further ado I grabbed my copy of the book, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for what proved to be a fabulously entertaining afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Promise Of Summer’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Ruby and I warmed to her from the very start. In fact it didn’t take me long to feel as though Ruby had become a good friend of mine and I naturally began to feel very protective of her. She is a lovely young lady in her mid-thirties and she is starting to panic a bit that she hasn’t yet achieved what she wanted to achieve. In a way, her good nature has been abused by those around her- like her former boyfriend for example. Ruby is certainly a romantic at heart and she wants to find the ‘happy ever after ending’ that she so deserves. Ruby is warm, sensitive, kind, generous, funny and honest. Will Ruby get the ‘happy ever after’ ending that she so deserves? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
‘The Promise Of Summer’ was a delight to read from start to finish. I started chuckling away to myself as soon as I read the first sentence of the story and I kept chuckling away to myself throughout the rest of the story.. It’s not often that you start reading a book and the opening words are ‘what a knob’. I almost spluttered my cup of tea when I read that line. Anyway I soon got into the story and I found it impossible to put the book down for any reason whatsoever. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and how quickly the time was passing. I finished this book within the space of a day and I enjoyed every single second of it.
‘The Promise Of Summer’ is well written. Bella has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Bella’s books is more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Bella certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a compelling story. This book was just the tonic I needed after a naff few days. Bella creates adorable characters who are impossible to dislike and you really do taken them into your hearts.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Promise Of Summer’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Bella’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I always love Bella Osborne's books and The Promise of Summer is an addition to the collection.
Ruby has an incident on a train that will keep her looking for an owner of a ring. She also meets Curtis that is a strange one but Ruby understands him. Together she builds a friendship.
Then there is Kim that owns the flower shop and she becomes friends with a customer, Adrian. But Kim has a secret that she does not want anyone finding out.
This book will make you smile and we need more books like these.

The blurb for this book intrigued me and within a few pages it had me completely hooked. Ruby is likeable and engaging and I empathised with her propensity to become clumsy, ditsy and talk too much when she gets nervous. My life couldn't be more different to hers, so it was nice to find something that formed a connection to the character. The supporting characters were also instantly likeable and the development of their relationship was just as interesting and engaging as that between Ruby and Curtis.

The initial scenario felt a little far-fetched I admit. However, as it was entirely in-keeping with the style of the genre, the fact it's unlikely to happen in real life, didn't really bother me. However, I love the fact that later in the book, the reason for this unlikely situation is explained and it suddenly becomes utterly believable. What I also found very realistic, unfortunately, was the subplot involving Kim. Having researched this topic for my MA Dissertation story, I am only too aware that this happens far more often than people think. Like Kim, the victims are often intelligent but vulnerable women who are easy targets. Cordelia too is a familiar 'type'.

There were moments when I was reading this book where I felt a real gut-wrenching pain on Ruby's behalf and this took me by surprise. It's a reaction I don't often have to this genre of book - usually the knowledge that in a rom-com everything always works out in the end, shields me from that. However, in this case, even knowing she'd probably get Curtis in the end didn't help.

Curtis is an atypical romantic hero - he put me more in mind of pre-Elizabeth Mr Darcy with his awkwardness and lack of understanding of the basic social norms in relationships. That said, he and Ruby are absolutely right for each other and I definitely found myself wanting more at the end of the book. Hopefully, Bella Osborne might agree and there will be a sequel! If there is, I'll definitely be reading it.

A very cute quick read thats perfect for summer. The characters were very lovable and the story played on all your emotions!

This was an ''I can't put this book down' for me.. There were tears and laughter. I loved the two main characters, Ruby and Curtis, they were so relatable. A charming read for a summer staycation

The moment I pick up a book by the wonderful Bella Osborne I just know I am in for an absolute treat, and this latest story had me hooked from the start.

Ruby has certainly been unlucky in love, having dealt with a string of disappointing boyfriends who all let her down in one way or another, she is seriously questioning whether true love really does exist. Whilst on a London bound train, Ruby finds herself talking to a stranger who reveals his plans to propose to his partner. Ruby finds herself being swept away with the romantic tale that this stranger has told her, and it certainly begins to rebuild her faith in their being true love out there after all.

After the stranger has left the train, Ruby realises he has left behind the stunning engagement ring he had shown her, and she instantly knows what needs to be done. Whilst already planning on how she is going to reunite the ring with it’s owner, Ruby finds herself talking to another passenger on the train – a man names Curtis, who believes he should be the one to return the ring. Ruby soon finds herself working alongside Curtis as they both embark on a journey to help give someone their happily ever after.

As Ruby and Curtis spend more time alongside one another, a tentative relationship begins to form between them. Whilst Ruby focuses all of her attention on reuniting the ring with the man from the train, she doesn’t anticipate that her own love story may be about to begin too.

This was such a breathtaking story that had me hooked from the very first page. The storyline is wonderfully structured and unique, providing us with the perfect levels of humour and romance as the story progresses. I adored Ruby from the start, but the more we learn about her with every passing chapter, the deeper a connection you find yourself sharing with her. I found myself wanting nothing more than for Ruby to find her own true love, especially following the line of awful relationships she has experienced previously.

The relationship that forms between Ruby and Curtis is heartwarming, as both of them start opening up to one another they learn they have a lot more in common than they initially thought, and with every passing day their bond grows deeper. With them both sharing the goal of wanting to help love on it’s way, they certainly both more than deserve their own chance at living the fairytale too.

An unforgettable story that sweeps you off your feet. I adored this book!

At the beginning of the book, we get to know Ruby. She’s a 35-year-old woman who has been disappointed by dating. Despite not having a partner, Ruby wants to become a mom. She then decides to pay for a sperm donor. On her way to London, she meets Lewis on a train. He is planning on proposing to his girlfriend on the London Eye. When things get chaotic, she lends him her phone, so he could take an important call. She then notices, Lewis got off the train – while talking on her phone. Even worse, she discovers he has left the engagement ring on the train. Another passenger, Curtis, suggests returning the ring to Lewis. Ruby is not willing to surrender to Curtis but wants to save the love story on her own. They soon find themself on an adventure, trying to return the engagement ring in time for the proposal. As soon as Curtis learns about the reason for Ruby’s journey, he steps in trying to save her from what may be a huge mistake.

I really liked Ruby. Even after being disappointed so many times, she’s still a keeper trying to make the best of her situation. Curtis, on the other hand, was annoying in the beginning but turned out to be a pretty cool guy. He’s more practical and stuffy, which complements Ruby pretty well. Even though their lives are completely different, they start getting along pretty well after spending some time together. While Curtis used to only focus on work, he learns that life is more about fun and joy.

Bella Osborne has a great style of writing humorously while addressing deep topics. Characters and settings are chosen very well in the story. This made me go through the story very fast, even though I’m not a native speaker. The topic of Ruby’s desire for a child touched my heart. I liked the way she handled the situation once Curtis was by her side. The ending had me satisfied with where Ruby, Kim and Curtis ended up. Overall, „The Promise of Summer“ was a great read. I enjoyed every single page of the book. You should definitely grab a copy if you’re a fan of romantic comedies.

– my rating: 5/5 stars –

This is the second of Bella’s books that I have read and I am so glad I signed up. I loved the one I read and have heard great things about Bella’s books and writing and wasn’t disappointed with reading this one.

The Promise of Summer is about Ruby. Ruby meets Curtis on a train to London where they share a carriage with a man who is on his way to propose to his girlfriend. When he accidentally leaves the ring behind on the train Ruby makes it her mission to return it to the owner, much to her surprise, with Curtis’ help.

When you are first introduced to Ruby and Curtis they couldn’t be more different. Ruby is bubbly whilst Curtis is very straight-laced. But across the story we see their connection develop and a bond builds between them. The unlikely pair provide so much fun along the way.

The book also features Kim, Ruby’s boss and friend, and we are also told her story from her perspective. There is a relationship building for Kim as well as her finding herself a four-legged friend.

I loved the four main characters and each pairings developing relationships as well the way their stories unfold. Of course there are twists and turns along the way, but this is what keeps you hooked and makes you keep turning the pages, which I was right from the start.

The book is written so well, it is light, fun, heart-warming and easy to read. It is perfect escapism for this summertime.

Thank you Netgalley and to the author/publishers for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is definalty 1 of my favourite reads this year! I absolutely loved it, the book grabbed me straight away and I found myself laughing at parts and I felt a little sad near the few last chapters but I'm so happy that the last chapter had a great ending!

I definalty had fun reading this book and I will be looking her other books up 🥰 this was an amazing fast pasted and enjoyable book that I would recommend anyone to read this summer!

When you open a book and the first page makes you giggle, you know you're in for a treat and this book was just marvellous. I've not read a book that has made me laugh out loud like this in ages. Ruby's humour was on point, mix that with Curtis, add in a bit of Kim and finish it off with Vince and Cordelia, hilarious! Just loved everything about it, not one to write spoilers, trust me this book will not disappoint if you're looking for fun, friendships, kindness with a few twists and turns along the way!

A well written, funny, easy, entertaining read with strong likeable characters.
The plot has many twists and turns, with surprises and shocks as well. I would look for other books by Bella
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this book .
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Bella Osborne for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Ruby Edwards began working at a flower shop, Bloom with a View, in Sheffield three years ago for her boss turned best friend, Kim. At 35-years-old, she is tired of dating losers and is ready to figure out the next steps in her life, even if she has to do them alone. When she takes a train to London to start this new journey, she first runs into Curtis Walker, a technical consultant from Sheffield that frequently travels to London. She is sitting in his seat on the train, so their relationship starts a little rocky. When Ruby moves seats, she sits next to another man, Lewis, who is on his way to London to propose to his girlfriend at the London Eye. When Lewis borrows Ruby’s phone and misses the train, Ruby is determined to not only try to get her phone back, but to reunite Lewis with his ring. Curtis ends up roped into the quest and both he and Ruby go through many crazy adventures in attempts to try and get the ring back to Lewis.

While the main story is about Ruby and Curtis trying to reunite the engagement ring with Lewis and getting to know each other along the way, there is a side story featuring Kim. Adrian is a regular customer that comes in every Friday to pick up flowers for his wife and he and Kim hit it off and are interested in becoming friends. The two of them share a commonality which brings the two of them together. At first, I did not find myself interested in Kim’s story. This was mostly due to my mindset where the synopsis made it seem as if this is solely a story about Ruby. However, Kim grew on me and I loved her getting to know the dog, Boomer, and how her story developed.

The entire story is filled with many humorous moments and memorable characters. Ruby and Kim share an amazing friendship. I love how genuine they are and how they support the other. They may be at different points in their lives, two different ages, as Kim is older in her 40s, and have different goals, but they are both there for the other no matter the circumstance. While Ruby is more outgoing and embraces life, Curtis has a more reserved and matter-of-fact personality. He lacks social awareness, but is not malicious. He is a very kind and caring individual and I loved how Ruby helps to bring him slowly out of his shell. In turn, he gives Ruby a new perspective, so the two of them balance each other very well.

There is a nice sense of balance between the more humorous moments and the serious ones. While the general event of the engagement ring that starts the adventure is a little far-fetched (improbable, but still possible), it was well written and a joy to read. Ruby may be a more energetic happy character in many moments, but she is going through moments of loneliness and losing faith in love where she one believed in the concept of a happily ever after. The pacing of the story was great as there is a nice build up to reveal how everything comes together and keeps the reader captivated with some unexpected twists and turns. Overall, this was a very satisfying read and makes me want to do some dramatic openings with double doors. This novel was a delightful heart-warming read!

**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources,, the publisher, Avon Books, and the author for the opportunity to participate with this enjoyable novel via Netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**