When I heard that Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources was organising a blog tour for all four books in Rhoda Baxter’s Smart Girls series, I really wanted to be part of it. I’ve read and reviewed Rhoda’s lovely writing before – I read and loved Please Release Me way back in 2015 (review and feature here), and more recently really enjoyed That Holiday in France, one of her Trewton Royd romances (review here).
But then I took a closer look at my other commitments, and realised my contribution would have to be a limited one. But I was in luck – the fourth standalone book is Girl at Christmas, only 80 pages long, just enough for a proper taster from this series. It’s available free when you sign up for Rhoda’s newsletter, so you might like to give it a try too – or if you’d really prefer to buy it you can, for kindle via Amazon.
Let’s take a closer look…
Tammy is normally at her happiest at Christmas, but she’s been dumped by her long term partner, with no real explanation… and her Christmas looks pretty bleak.
Lawrence has just been told he has an inherited heart condition… and he’s not allowed to eat too many mince pies. Not exactly a recipe for a great holiday.
With time running out for Lawrence, will he tell Tammy how he feels before it’s too late?
– Plus sized hero
– British Asian heroine
– Romance in a microbiology lab
– All the Christmas feels
Girl At Christmas is a standalone novella in the award nominated Smart Girls series. If you like heartwarming, sweet romance and an unusual chubby hero, it’s the perfect book for you. Buy Girl At Christmas and reclaim the holiday spirit today!
This really is such a delightful and well-told story – gloriously Christmassy, filled with emotion, with a nice touch of drama, strong characters – and a bit of a lesson in how to develop the loveliest story with surprising depth in a scant number of pages.
Tammy (short for Thamara – she’s Sri Lankan) has always loved Christmas, and as she hurries home from work, she hopes this year’s will be the chance to spend more quality time with live-in boyfriend Jeff – instead he greets her with the out-of-the-blue news that he’s leaving her. Lawrence does have a few significant problems of his own (not least the issue of how he’s going to stick to his diet and avoid the mince pies), but he’s always liked Tammy – they’ve always got on well at work in the lab – and he grabs the unexpected chance to take her to the office Christmas party, egged on by his friend Walter. But things don’t go quite as smoothly as he hopes…
I really loved both of the main characters, and entirely believed in their developing romance – there are tears, there’s laughter, and the loveliest warmth around it all. There’s an excellent supporting cast too – Jeff the boo-hiss villain of the piece, the other staff at the lab, the supportive friendships. Although some of the characters appeared in the earlier books, this one is entirely standalone – and if you’re looking for a thoroughly enjoyable short read for a breather from all the Christmas mayhem, I’d recommend it really highly. The author writes quite beautifully, and her emotional touch is perfect – I loved this one.
Maybe your reading list isn’t quite as full as mine – if all the books are as good as this one (and I have no doubt they will be) this is a series I’d thoroughly recommend. Here are details of the other three books:
Girl On The Run (just 99p until 20th November)
After a humiliating split from her celebrity ex, Jane is hiding from the spotlight. She’s moved city, moved jobs and changed her hair. She wants to disappear and finish her training as a patent attorney.
Marshall has worked hard for years and nomination to the partnership is tantalisingly close. He must avoid scandal at any cost.
When they meet, their attraction is impossible to ignore. Neither wants a fuss, but with the paparazzi following Jane and an office trouble maker determined to sabotage their relationship, they can’t escape unscathed.
Girl on the Run is the first in a series of standalone contemporary romances. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane or Sue Moorcroft.
Twenty two year old Stevie needs to prove to everyone that she’s a grown up. So she throws herself into her dream of becoming an event planner by agreeing to organise a fundraising ball in Oxford. Add a rambling house, a committee that can’t agree and budget that’s far too small, Stevie thinks things can’t get worse. Until her childhood crush, her big brother’s old housemate, turns up.
Tom is working hard to be the success his mother wants him to be. When he realises that the ball his mum and her friends are organising will be run by his friend’s baby sister ‘poor, needy Stevie’, he steps in to avoid disaster. But Stevie is no longer a teenager, she’s a disturbingly attractive young woman … and she’s not about to let anyone get in her way.
Shortlisted for the 2017 Romantic Comedy Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Girl Having a Ball is the second standalone novel in Rhoda Baxter’s Smart Girls series. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sue Moorcroft.
Olivia doesn’t believe in happy families. She can’t trust men to be reliable, so she’d rather manage without one. As for kids – she’s never having those.
Marine biologist Walter is losing his daughter. He longs for a second chance to prove he can be a reliable dad.
When Olivia discovers she’s pregnant by her douchebag ex, Walter finally sees a way to be more than just a friend-with-benefits to her.
But how can he persuade the most independent woman he’s ever met to accept his help, let alone his heart?
Girl In Trouble is a standalone novel in the award nominated Smart Girls series. If you like warm, witty, women’s fiction, you’ll love this book. Ideal for fans of Meg Cabot or Jennifer Crusie.
Giveaway
With thanks to Rhoda and Rachel, I’m delighted to offer the chance to win e-copies of Girl On The Run, Girl Having A Ball, and Girl in Trouble (open internationally). Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:
Terms and Conditions Worldwide entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the author
Rhoda Baxter writes romantic comedies about people who make her laugh. A microbiologist by training, Rhoda loves all things science geeky. She also loves cake, crochet and playing with Lego. You can find out more about her (and get a free book by signing up to her newsletter) on her website.
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