#Review: Thank You, Next by Kathryn Freeman @KathrynFreeman1 @0neMoreChapter_ @rararesources #blogtour #giveaway #newrelease #romcom #RespectRomFic #ThankYouNext

I’m so delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour for the new book from Kathryn Freeman, Thank You, Next, and sharing my review on paperback publication day. This is the ninth book in her RomCom Collection (not a series, so you can happily pick up any book to enjoy!), published by One More Chapter and available for kindle and in paperback via Amazon in the UK and US, and as an ebook on all major platforms. It’s a pleasure too to offer one reader the chance to win a paperback copy – you’ll find the entry form after my review. Thank you to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).

After so many years of reading Kate’s books, I’m running out of original ways to introduce my reviews – but, as I know I’ve said before (sorry…!), I just know I’m going to enjoy everything she writes. The publishers are calling her latest a “hilarious and steamy fake dating romcom”, and I’m sure they’re right – but what I always so look forward to is the originality of her storylines, her fantastic storytelling, and the extraordinary  chemistry between her characters. Her last book, Was It Good For You?, was based around the use of an Excel spreadsheet to run your life – that might sound less than exciting, but I absolutely loved it with its wonderful characters and sizzling romance, and the ending (the music, the sequins…) was just so totally perfect I wasn’t sure whether to shed a tear or laugh out loud with the sheer joy of it (you can read my full review again here). But if the idea of that spreadsheet worried me a little, the idea of a reality dating show made me even more uncertain – I’ve honestly never watched one, nor had any desire to do so. But hey, in this author’s hands I’m sure I’m going to love it – or I do hope so!

In this game of hearts, the stakes have never been higher…

 

Molly Harris is used to being left. Parents, boyfriends – she’s the queen of rejection. Her latest boyfriend, gym-fanatic Duncan, dumps her to go on reality dating show The One which sets up hot singletons to date for four weeks before meeting at the altar to say, ‘I do’.

 

But Duncan was the one who picked Molly up and put her back together the last time her heart got broken, so, determined not to let ‘The One’ get away, she follows Duncan onto the show. If she can prove that they’re meant to be, she might just get the happily ever after of her dreams…

 

But on the first day of filming, another reminder of her painful history walks into Happily Ever After Towers: Ben Knight, her it’s-not-you-it’s-me heartbreaker. The one she loved before Duncan.

 

In four weeks’ time, who will she meet at the altar? Duncan, the first person who ever made her feel loved, or Ben, the first person who made her feel?

Molly and Duncan have been an item for a while, and she’d rather hoped they were heading for marriage – instead, he puts their relationship on hold while he goes on “The One”, a TV dating show, hoping it’ll get his fitness business some exposure. For a while, she’s horrified – paired contestants sometimes agree to marry as the series closes. But the producers also sometimes include exes to spice things up a little, so when she’s invited to take part in the show too, she thinks it might be a good way of getting Duncan to the altar, and for them to have some fun along the way.

Ben becomes a participant for a rather different reason – he’s certainly not looking for love, but can’t say no to his sister who’s the show’s assistant producer. But the complications start when Ben and Molly meet at the first night drinks reception – he’s the former boyfriend who broke her heart, never having told her why their rather special relationship ended. And that’s not where they end, because Molly isn’t matched with Duncan, but with Ben – her “perfect match” – who she can hardly bring herself to talk to, especially when the cameras are intent on capturing every moment.

The whole dating show set up is wonderfully done – the flamboyant presenter, the often over-the-top or obnoxious other contestants wanting their moments in the spotlight, Ben’s sister having to do her job while knowing how difficult things are for him, and the cameras never far away. Duncan’s not a man with a great deal of depth (putting it mildly…), and Molly has to watch him getting closer to his match while enduring her difficult situation. But Ben is rather different – there were deep secrets he kept that caused their break up, a few major issues he needed to work through, and (never the great communicator) he’s able to share them as they spend more time together and slowly find that the spark they once had is still there. There are reasons why Molly reacted so badly when he dumped her too – and, at last, it seems they can finally be honest with each other.

And that spark between them? At first it smoulders, but the fire slowly ignites – Molly begins to see Duncan for what he really is, someone who’s always tried to change her into someone she isn’t, and can see that Ben might really have been the most perfect match all along. And that chemistry between them begins to build – it’s something the author always does so very well – building to a good number of very steamy moments that got me rather flushed and hot under the collar. So, when the game show comes to an end, and they have to decide whether to say “I do”, what will their answers be?

There are plenty of lighter moments along the way – all those activities and set-ups that make the dating show, along with the difficulties of concealing their developing relationship (with a few near misses they – just about – get away with…), which nicely balance the darker edges to Ben and Molly’s pasts. This book really was so much more than the sum of its parts – the love triangle, the enemies-to-lovers, the whole dating show format. Ben and Molly were two distinctly damaged individuals who slowly repaired each other, explored their feelings, gave a lot of thought to making each other happy – they certainly won my heart, and I so wanted them to find happiness. And I have to say that the ending was absolutely perfect – it really brought a tear to my eye – but I’m afraid you’re going to have to read the book to find out more!

All I will say is that this was a book I really loved. I should mention, I think, that the steaminess might just be a bit full-on for some readers – but there’s something about the way the author writes it that makes it entirely appropriate and totally acceptable, and a bit of a different experience that I rather enjoyed. And I’ve mentioned before that I’ve never been a fan of dating shows – my goodness, I had no idea what I was missing. A wonderful read, as always – and one I’d most certainly recommend to others.

Giveaway

With thanks to Kathryn and Rachel, I’m delighted to offer the chance to win a paperback copy of Thank You, Next (open internationally). Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

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