Blog Tour – Always On My Mind by Beth Moran @bethcmoran @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #BookReview #BlogTour #boldwoodbloggers #PublicationDay #AlwaysOnMyMind

I have been trying to read more books by this author, but the timing doesn’t always allow me to squeeze her books in. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed two of her previous offerings and was delighted to be able to accept my place on this blog tour. I just love her writing and can highly recommend the two previous books: We Belong Together and Just the Way You Are – these links will take you to my previous reviews.

I am grateful to Rachel’s Random Resources and to Boldwood Books for my advance reading copy, which was gifted to me via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. You can read my thoughts below.

Synopsis

Sometimes when you can’t see the way forwards, the best thing to do is to look back…

When Jessie left home at eighteen, she swore she’d never go back. But when life takes a turn for the complicated, she’s forced to move in with her twin, Isaac, and his two best friends. To her dismay, one of these is Elliot, the boy Jessie once loved, until his life was changed forever by a terrible accident that Jessie still blames herself for.

Cohabiting with three alarmingly unhouse-trained males was not in Jessie’s life plan so when Isaac, Elliot and Arthur offer her a generous rent discount if she’ll help them with their ‘Boys to Men Project’, designed to end years of disastrous dating, she reluctantly accepts the challenge.

As Jessie embraces the comfort of being home, revelling in her new job at her parents’ day centre full of people determined to grow old disgracefully, she realises her housemates aren’t the only ones needing to make some changes. And maybe, if she can finally forgive herself for Elliot’s accident, she can start to look forward to a future, with or without him by her side.

Purchase Link

Review

I made a point of not reading the synopsis for this one as I often enjoy being taken on a mystery tour, and this was a perfect example of the magical effects of a surprise. The book opens ten years earlier when Jessie finally won the heart of her brother’s best friend, Elliot. She is ecstatic until a terrible accident ends her brief taste of happiness and massively changes his future.

We then fast forward to the present day and discover that Jessie is forced to return to her childhood village and move in with her brother, Isaac, and his friends, Arthur, and Elliot. She accepts a job working in her parents’ day centre and soon rediscovers her joy. Her time in the village is limited as she is waiting for her boyfriend to return home after his trip of self-discovery. The only hiccup in her new life is that she’s now sharing a house with the man she has always loved, Elliot. He has serious memory problems as a result of his accident and doesn’t seem to remember his fleeting moment with Jessie.

To help supplement Jessie’s income, the guys ask her to help them become more attractive to women and land dates with their crushes. It’s going to be difficult for Jessie to coach her former crush to start a new relationship.

This was a terrific story, and I was absolutely invested right from the opening chapters. Whilst the book was written in a way that was easy to follow, there was a lot going on. There were two distinct storylines that worked perfectly together. The characters from the day centre – affectionately known as The Outlaws – were a terrific bunch and I found myself laughing at their escapades. The day centre was the workplace for both Jessie and Isaac. Isaac was developing a wedding venue for the weekend. Then there was the mission to bring the three housemates into the dating world – Boys to Men. Another source of entertainment and some of the sweetest elements of the story.

Although the Boys to Men project was aimed at Isaac, Arthur, and Elliot; it soon became clear that as part of the process, Jessie was undergoing a path of her own discovery. Her abilities at work and at home developed a confidence that she’s been lacking. Along the way, there were some beautiful moments and one that left me dabbing at my tears.

This wonderful story was exactly what I needed. Filled with positivity and hope, it swept me up and carried me to a feeling of contentment. Perfect!

Author Bio

Beth Moran is the bestselling author of romantic novels including Christmas Every Day and Just The Way You Are. She regularly features on BBC Radio Nottingham and is a trustee of the national women’s network Free Range Chicks. She lives on the outskirts of Sherwood Forest.