I love reading books set in places I'd love to visit - but reading this book was anything but fun. This was a short read, which I was grateful for at the end. We meet Aiden and Mia at the hotel they're staying at in Bali at the very beginning of the book. The story jumped right in where some back story or buildup should have been. The whole dynamic between the two felt forced and awkward. I didn't feel any real connection between them, and honestly, I didn't love these characters that much either. Aside from the beautiful setting that is Bali, this book was a miss for me, unfortunately.

If you’re the author, look away. Please.

There was no romance in this 100 page romance novel. None. It was so forced and shallow. The mc’s should have ended up as friends. The author took two random people and decided they NEED to end up together no matter what.

'Mia and Aiden bump into each other in Bali and click right away. A single dad on vacation, alone, and a woman who lost her mother recently and hasn’t yet figured out what she wants out of life. They help each other through their promblems’…. and somewow along the way decides they should be together, forever???

The way I saw it, Mia and Aiden decided they were to be together because Aiden’s babygirl needed a mom and Mia wanted to be her mom… without having ever even met the child. Wdym you ”love her”?? You. Have. Not. Even. Met. Her. Wtf?

About 85% of the book plays out in Bali and focuses most on what activities they spend their days doing. It was honestly boring. The conversations were stilted, painfully scripted. The writing is very repetitive and for the most part, feels like something a 15 year old would write for class.

This was not a book for me.

Mia and Aiden are both holiday in alone and staying at the same hotel in Bali. They meet when they both book on the same tour to climb a volcano to watch the sunrise over the ocean.

Mia’s mother has just died of cancer and she is taking her first holiday without her mum. Mia is trying to work out what she wants to do with her life now.

Aiden’s holiday is a gift from his parents to encourage him to find joy in his life after his wife deserted him and their young daughter and the divorce has just been finalised.

Neither of them is looking for love, but they start chatting on the tour bus and click on so many levels that they agree to catch up for evening meals but only as friends. Turns out that back in Australia they only live an hour apart. She has a large property with geese, cats, dogs and show ponies; he is a vet. Over the next few days the two of them share confidences about their fears and encourage each other with suggestions to enable them to face the world again

Before Mia leaves Bali a week later she has fallen in love with Aiden and tells him. But he makes it clear that he doesn’t want to marry again and risk his daughter’s heart being broken when she is left behind like her mother did, he is happy to remain friends.

With Aiden in Townsville and Mia in Charters Towers can there be any chance for happiness? Both of them have issues but will they overcome them and get together to find their happy ever after?

I loved how the author portrayed the issues of both Aiden and Mia; my heart went out to both of them and having lost my mother recently I really related to Mia. I also liked the resolution. I enjoyed reading Bali escape with the single dad and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance.

Mia has arrived in Bali to relax and enjoy a holiday. And so has Auden, who has been encouraged to go on holidays by his parents.

Mia and Aidan enjoy spending time together during the holidays, agreeing to be friends and learning about each other.

Both Mia and Aidan have their own issues they are working through and they talk about them, each suggesting how they can do achieve them

A surprise visit makes both Mia and Aidan try to see a future that is different to the one they currently have.

A beautiful story that looks at how certain loses in life can make us double check what we want.

Thank you to #netgalley, the publishers and the author for an early release of the book to read.

A review of Bali Escape with the Single Dad courtesy of #netgalley.