#Review: Six Steps To Happiness by Suzie Tullett @SuzieTullett @bombshellpub @BOTBSPublicity #blogtour #romcom

It’s a joy today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of Six Steps To Happiness, the new romantic comedy from Suzie Tullett. Published on 3rd December by Bombshell Books, it’s available via Amazon for kindle (also part of the Kindle Unlimited scheme) and in paperback.

Suzie has been part of that privileged club – authors I just knew I’d love, if only I could read one of their books – for longer than I can remember. All her books are there, on my kindle, just waiting for their moment. And I’ll admit I did get slightly embarrassed by how many times I promised to read her last book, The French Escape, only to be side-tracked by something else new and shiny. And then I had the real pleasure of meeting Suzie at the RNA Winter Party – where she even looked after my handbag while I had my moment in the spotlight. But, at long last, (with thanks to Sarah at BOTBS Publicity, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy), I’ve finally read one of her books – and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

When Ronnie’s husband, Nick, leaves her for their next-door neighbour, Gaye, Ronnie’s life starts to fall apart.

 

Devastated by the break-up of her marriage, Ronnie is desperate for Nick and Gaye to set up home elsewhere. But Nick and Gaye won’t budge.

 

To add to her problems, Ronnie’s daughter and mother-in-law decide to stage an intervention. With her family keeping a close eye on her, Ronnie is forced to become more devious in her actions to get rid of Nick and Gaye.

 

But just how far will she go?

 

And is moving on ever that easy?

 

Six Steps to Happiness is a hilarious look at just how far one woman will go to recover from a broken heart and find happiness again.

I don’t know if others find the same, but when I dive into a romantic comedy it sometimes takes me a short while to get onto its wavelength and to totally relax into the writing. That happened with this one, but it really only took a few pages. Ronnie is (how shall I put this?) just slightly unhinged – but that’s what can happen when your husband walks out of the door with is suitcase, entirely without warning, and moves into the house next door.

At first, I did fear I wasn’t going to like her – her intensity frightened me a little, and as her attempts to get even became more and more off-the-wall (well, maybe through-the-wall might be more accurate…) I watched in absolute horror. But I read with admiration too – this was a woman who I really wanted to survive and prosper, and to find a little happiness of her own. Bit by bit – with a few small reversals along the way – I really grew to love her.

Her mother-in-law (yes, her errant husband’s mother) and her daughter think she’s worth fighting for too – and the six envelopes they give her with tasks she must perform give her a focus other than the houses’ party wall. Not all goes to plan though, and sometimes – well, most of the time, really – the consequences aren’t exactly what they hope for, but they certainly made me laugh, and sometimes cry too.

She gains a new friend (with an irresistible smile), a new romance looks like a real possibility (and from the most unlikely direction – but what a lovely man!), and she gains a real knowledge of herself and what she really must do to move on and start again. My favourite moment in the book? I’d really love to stand on the top of a viaduct and shout out every frustration and worry – but if I ever do, I’ll try and make sure the emergency services don’t need to intervene.

I really loved this book – it’s warm, it’s so well written, it’s exceptionally funny, it surprises you with moments of depth and seriousness and others that make you think, and it most certainly leaves you with a wholly satisfied feeling as you reluctantly reach the end. Good luck to you, Ronnie – and well done, Susie, this book is an absolute triumph!

About the author 

Suzie Tullett is an author or contemporary humorous fiction and romantic comedy. She has a Masters Degree in Television & Radio Scriptwriting and worked as a scriptwriter before becoming a full-time novelist. Her motto is ‘live, laugh, love’ and when she’s not busy creating her own literary masterpieces, she usually has her head in someone else’s.

Suzie lives between the Yorkshire Dales and a tiny hamlet in the middle of the French countryside, along with her husband and two Greek rescue dogs.

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