Written in the Stars

The Skylarks #2

by Helen Rolfe

A hidden secret

Live every day as if it were your last – that’s the motto Bess has lived by since her father died unexpectedly. As a critical care paramedic, Bess sees every day just how easily life can be taken away. But carefree living has risks, and as Bess’s debts mount, she discovers her actions could have terrible consequences…

An unexpected arrival

Nothing gives Gio more joy than his work saving lives in the fire service. And on the days when his call-outs put him in the path of the air ambulance, and one paramedic in particular, things are pretty perfect. Until Gio’s world is spun on its head, first by the arrival of his estranged mother on his doorstep, and then by an accident that could put his career on hold indefinitely.

A new beginning?

Gio and Bess have always worked well together, but could they be the solution to each other’s problems beyond the frontline as well? And will they let their guard down enough to give each other a chance before snow falls over Whistlestop River?

Genres: Adult, Christmas, Fiction

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2024

About the author

Helen Rolfe also writes as Helen J. Rolfe

Helen Rolfe writes contemporary women's fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and relationships. Characters often face challenges and must fight to overcome them, but above all, Helen's stories always have a happy ending.

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen's books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries around the world. So far, locations have included Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Connecticut, Bath and the Cotswolds. She also loves creating village settings or places with a small-town feel and a big sense of community.

Born and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia where she eventually turned her attentions back to the career she'd dreamt of when she was fourteen. She studied writing and journalism and wrote articles for women's health and fitness magazines. Helen began writing fiction in 2011 and hasn't missed the I.T. world one little bit... in fact she may just have found her dream job!

To learn more about Helen, find her at:

www.helenjrolfe.com

https://www.facebook.com/helenjrolfew...

https://twitter.com/hjrolfe

https://www.instagram.com/helen_j_rolfe/

Reviews

[suus⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

: ̗̀➛ 3.5 stars

"Life was precious; life could be taken away from you in a moment. And she wanted to make the most of hers."

This cozy Christmas novel delivers a friends-to-lovers romance with surprising emotional depth. Bess, a paramedic struggling with financial troubles and the grief of losing her father, and Gio, a firefighter facing a career-threatening injury and family issues surrounding his mother’s alcoholism, come together to support each other through their personal challenges. Their deep friendship slowly evolves into something more as they help each other heal, making this a heartfelt and well-written read.

The story, while part of a series, stands alone and is easy to follow, featuring a great cast of realistic characters. The author does an excellent job of portraying the lives of first responders, with detailed descriptions of their tools, routines, and tasks that add authenticity to the narrative. I also found myself deeply invested in Marianne, Gio’s mother, and was rooting for her redemption throughout the story.

However, the pacing felt a bit slow, and the romance didn’t really blossom until the final pages, leaving me wanting more development in that area. Despite Bess and Gio having lived together in the past, their supposed close friendship seemed a bit unbelievable at times, especially given how little they knew about each other’s personal lives.

That said, the novel still offers a charming wintertime romance with a satisfying friends-to-lovers arc. The third-person limited narration added depth to the world, and overall, I think many readers would enjoy this sweet, closed-door romance. Highly recommended!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Written in the Stars, by Helen Rolfe, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book two in The Skylarks Book series. Bess is a paramedic, she has been living carefree since the loss of her father, Gio is also a first responder, but works with fires, he has his own family drama going on, namely his mother. I really liked the characters, they have stressful jobs, and good attitudes, for the most part.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bess has been having a hard time lately. She enjoys her job as a paramedic. I liked the chemistry between Bess and Gio. A nice read.

[Posthermit ( formerly vaithx ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read a book about Air Ambulance paramedics and after reading this book I wish there were more books with it out there. It was kind of fascinating, I mean it’s practically normal ambulance but instead of a car you get to ride a helicopter. How cool is that? I loved reading about Bess and how she was how much her job was the biggest part of her life. I could obviously tell she loved it I mean who wouldn’t. It had it risks and it’s pretty demanding but it seemed amazing to me.

And Gio! I loved him and it was hard watching him come to terms with the possibility that he might never be a firefighter again I couldn’t by any means imagine how he was feeling but from my view he took it well.

Also his response to his alcoholic mom dropping out of nowhere in his town and his home was valid. He had given her every chance to change and she always threw it away but I could see that she was committed this time and I loved that for her.

I absolutely loved her childlike joy and fascination with sparklers and Christmas lights show overall I loved that she was trying and I wished we got more from of it.

From my point of view, the romance was very overshadowed by their past friendship. They had lived in the same house in the past , the author gave us minute snippets. It was like instead of building towards their relationship in the present the author expected us to rely on their past friendship to build one from word of mouth, kind of. It was a bit lacking to me and I wished she spent a bit of time to develop it.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this Arc.

[Ashley]

I really wish I could give this book a chance but the beginning of the story just hits way too close to home for me and I'm not in a good place to power through that. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the Stars by Helen Rolfe

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

An unexpected arrival

Nothing gives Gio more joy than his work saving lives in the fire service. And on the days when his call-outs put him in the path of the air ambulance, and one paramedic in particular, things are pretty perfect. Until Gio’s world is spun on its head, first by the arrival of his estranged mother on his doorstep, and then by an accident that could put his career on hold indefinitely.

A new beginning?

Gio and Bess have always worked well together, but could they be the solution to each other’s problems beyond the frontline as well? And will they let their guard down enough to give each other a chance before snow falls over Whistlestop River?

My Opinion

Written in the Stars is the second book in The Skylarks series and whilst it can be read as a standalone I would recommend reading the books in order for maximum enjoyment.

I have to say that I am really enjoying reading this series. Written in the Stars is a book that I finished in one sitting. Bess is in need of help, she is in a terrible financial situation but doesn't feel like she can talk to anyone. Helen Rolfe has handled difficult situations in such a delicate manner.

Have you joined The Skylarks? You will not be disappointed.

Rating 4/5

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Written in the Stars” by Helen Rolfe. What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. The setting of Whistlestop River, in Dorset sounds perfect, and I could picture the fields and the breathtaking coastline each time the emt helicopter took to the skies It had everything you could want in a story friendship, community and love.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. It’s a great follow up to book one
Come Fly With Me, and I can’t wait to pick up the authors next book!

I will definitely read other books by this author.


I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Boldwood Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[linds❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

 "Life was precious; life could be taken away from you in a moment. And she wanted to make the most of hers."

Bess and Gio have been friends for ages: previous flat mates and work closely together. Since both are first responders - Bess is a critical care medic and Gio a firefighter - they’re used to intense days filled with emotional and physical complications. But things are about to get a lot more complicated for each of them - between unexpected arrivals, mounting financial burdens, and a potentially career-altering injury.

What to expect:
➥ friends-to-lovers, small town romance
➥ 2 third-person limited POVs - Bess & Gio
➥ closed door spice
➥ part of a series but can be read standalone
➥ slow paced
➥ CW: addiction (alcoholism)

This Christmas-time romance was not surface level and included tonnes of emotional depth which was a nice surprise. The characters were all lovely and each added their own importance to the story. I enjoyed how easy it was to follow along and how the third-person limited narration allowed for more details in the world than a first person would have. I enjoyed the job descriptions of the first responders, I thought it was realistic and the author really seemed to know a lot about the tools, routines, and tasks they would partake in.
The characters were realistic and I found myself caring about them and their struggles. Bess with her financial burdens and the grief over her father. And Gio with his injury and the family issues surrounding his mother’s addiction. I really liked the mother - Marianne - and routed for her redemption a lot.

That being said, I felt like the pacing was a little slow. The romance was virtually non-existent until the last 20 pages or so, which left me wanting more. Bess and Gio had lived together a long time ago, yet Beth knew nothing of his family life and Gio didn’t even know her name was Elizabeth. There were reasons that were explained in the story, but I felt it was a little unbelievable considering they were supposed to be such good friends.
The will-they-wont-they aspect of the story didn’t carry as much tension, which I think added to the feelings of wanting more.

Overall, this story was a cute friends-to-lovers, closed door, wintertime romance that I think a lot of readers would enjoy.


{Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.}

[Anne Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paramedic Bess had her life turned upside down by the sudden death of her father, followed by a health scare of her own, and she so wishes he was still around to help her with the mess she’s in – her emotional spending has become totally out of control, the final demands are arriving, she might even lose her home, and she can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

At work, her sunshine personality brightens everyone’s days however difficult they might be – and she particularly enjoys it when her path crosses that of Gio, the fireman, who’s often at the same calls and there’s always been a bit of a spark between them. But he has his own issues too, when his mother Marianne turns up – her drinking meant he had a very difficult childhood, and he’s not entirely convinced that things have changed. And things only get many times worse for him when he’s involved in an accident – with a real possibility that he might never be fit enough to do his job again, so the future’s looking particularly bleak.

Their lives become entangled when Bess decides to take in a lodger – his mother – to help her financial situation, and her friendship with Gio might just become something more as they help each other heal. But she’s shaken once more when she finds her mother has started to move on from her loss, with a new partner – who she’s determined to compare unfavourably with her dad, but, in time, might have good reason to change her mind.

This was a really lovely emotional read – two damaged people finding strength through each other – with quite a few difficult issues so sensitively handled. And I was just as invested in Marianne’s story – her difficult journey to turning her life around, and hopefully reuniting with her family despite all the past hurt. In fact, I loved the whole way the different family issues were dealt with – when Bess finally shares her problems with her mum, her offer of help (welcome, but nowhere near enough) really touched me to the heart. And the book’s emotional depth is all the greater because it’s Christmas, that time of year when everything should be festive and bright – a time for family, and having fun in the recently fallen snow. And there is a good measure of joy and laughter, as Bess and Gio begin to grow closer – a slow burn romance I really enjoyed – and the future begins to look a little brighter for everyone.

I really must mention Bess’s work with the Skylarks, responding to emergencies in the air ambulance, dealing calmly and efficiently with so many difficult calls – well researched, dramatic at times, and very real. And I enjoyed the relationships between the crew – it would have been nice to have known their back story from the first book in the series, but I had no problems at all picking up this book as a standalone. I’ll certainly be looking forward to the next in the series – this was a book I very much enjoyed.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bess is part of a helicopter paramedic team and Gio is a firefighter. With jobs as stressful as theirs, they both want to keep their private lives as drama-free as possible. Unfortunately for Bess, her debts have been getting out of control since her father’s unexpected passing, her mother suddenly has a new boyfriend, and she realizes that she may have feelings for Gio. And unfortunately for Gio, his mother is back in town wanting one last chance at reconciliation, an injury on the job keeps him away from the career he loves, and he may in fact like Bess back.

I really liked the characters in this book, particularly the relationship between Gio and his mother. The book mostly keeps a lighthearted tone, despite dealing with some fairly serious subject matter, but the issues at hand are given enough gravity to keep it from becoming disrespectful. There’s a good balance of real-life problems and genre-typical Holiday Romance wish fulfillment that helps keep it interesting throughout. I thought that Bess and Gio’s jobs were interesting choices for them and helped emphasize their personalities and conflicts well.

While generally I don’t particularly like when simple miscommunication is used as a plot device, I think it was actually quite well done here as we get a lot of context behind characters’ occasional knee-jerk reactions to situations, and I thought that the characters’ decisions made sense based on their personalities even when I disagreed with them. The writing style was fast-paced and didn’t get bogged down at any point, making this a fast, cozy, holiday read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

4/5 A book for fans of the sexy fireman calendar, and second chances.

[Jensen Potrykus · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 & 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘭𝘧𝘦. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

Rating: 2.5/5⭐️
Release Date: Sep. 19 2024
Vibes:
- no spice
- paramedic x firefighter
- financial struggles
- workplace injuries
- family trauma

Review:

My biggest gripe with romance novels is when they aren't actually romance novels. Typically I feel like at 60% in for non-smutty romance novels is when the couple gets together/has their first time!! Here, at 90%, the couple is, well, not a couple at all. At least that means there can't be a third act breakup?

This was general fiction / women's fiction. There was no need at all to tag it as romance, because that is not what this is. My negative comments are primarily regarding this distinction.

I understand slowburn and friends to lovers, and can really love it if done well! Take The Undermining of Twyla and Frank as an example!! Actual perfection for friends to lovers and representation of older (by that I just mean not 20-somethings) people finding love and happiness. This? Well, this wasn't it. There isn't really any chemistry at all, especially considering they don't interact with each other the vast majority of the time! "Oh, I wonder how Gio is doing" does not translate to "I think I love this man". And nothing about their relationship throughout the book feels like it was "written in the stars" (actually cringed when Gio said that).

Marketing this book as romantic was not the move. If you are looking for women's fiction dealing with family trauma, financial issues, and the most minuscule amount of romantic subplot, then this may be a good pick for you.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous, sensitively told story! Bess is still reeling from the untimely death of her beloved father. In mourning, she has become completely bonded to her mother but has taken the option not to become entangled in a relationship, as they can lead to real heartache. Assuming that her mother feels the same, she’s contented to deal with the ‘what-ifs’ that come her way as she pursues her single life.
I adored Bess, although I felt frustrated with how she overlooked the impact of unrestrained spending, choosing to ignore the mounting letters and bills arriving in her letterbox. Many of us may have done a similar thing, but we’ve all learned what a dangerous path it is to follow. Although flawed, Her approach to life leads her to believe she’s untouchable. All she needs to do is protect her heart from the serial dater and best friend, Gio.
Gio is convinced that there could be a future for him with Bess, but he knows that he needs to let her see that he’s not the commitment-phobic lothario that she sees him as. He’s loyal to his family, although his relationship with his mother is complicated by her reliance on alcohol. A devastating accident sees him battling with his demons and questioning the choices that he’s made.
This story has ups and downs, and I found it to be an emotional read. Having experienced a parental alcohol user, it was a little close to home, yet cathartic to remind myself that their choices had little to do with me. Gio has a heart of gold and is set on showing Bess that he’s not the guy she perceives him to be.
The characters are presented with a gentle hand, and I found them to be warm and engaging. The storylines were painfully relatable but brought a realism to the story that made it more believable.
Catching up with the team we met in book one was lovely, and I’m already excited to see what the next book may hold. You can read this as a standalone as long as you promise to go back and read Come Fly with Me later.

[Sharon Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for inviting us onto this book tour.

This was such a lovely read bess lost her dad suddenly a few years ago and as a critical air ambulance assistant she is struggling to cope but doesn't tell anyone. She believes in her dad's moto live everyday as if it's your last but after having a health scare herself she has been spending money at a rate of knots and its now out of control but she can't bring herself to tell anyone. Her friend gio a fireman is in love with her but doesn't want to tell her but he has an accident and then his troublesome mother arrives on the scene but can bess and his mum help each other to get and stay on the right track and will they realise how much they really really like each other before its too late.

I loved reading this book so much I finished it in a day. I loved bess and maya and noah and gio and his mother I loved how she was really trying to make amends. Bess doesn't realise her mum has a new friend until she is involved in an accident but can get past the fact he is not her dad. I loved all the characters and the Christmas theme. I can not wait for another book in this series. As someone who lost their dad very suddenly I agree live everyday as if it's your last. A very heart warming story.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

How lovely to be back amongst the Skylarks again, and this time it's Bess we get to know extremely well. From the start it is clear she isn't being honest about her life, and I guessed almost instantly what she was hiding (I don't think it was meant to be a secret for the readers).

And it's something that for a winter set book, in the run up to and aftermath of Christmas, is going to be very relevant to many people, and something I'd imagine lots can identify with sadly.

And then there is Gio, a firefighter so if there isn't enough adrenalin being caused by the air rescue descriptions, then there is even more when we see Gio in action. Up until things don't quite go according to plan, which coincides with the timing of his mother arriving back in his life.

The storyline involving Marianne, Gio's mother is dealt with sensitively and it felt realistic to me.

I loved seeing how all the various threads were developed during this story, including the clear will they, won't they between our two main characters.

This was another really great book in this fabulous story, and I was invested in the lives of these characters. Bring on book three!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this sweet holiday romance novel, readers follow critical care paramedic Bess and fireman Gio, two friends dealing with lingering traumas and jobs where danger and tragedy are staples of life. Bess, however, is struggling with mounting debts and the lingering grief from her father’s death last year, while Gio’s estranged alcoholic mother and a workplace accident turn his life (and his interactions with Bess on the job) on its head. As both Bess and Gio grapple with these new challenges and the new people in their lives, they must learn to ask for help from places where they haven’t been able to turn, and perhaps a romance is on the way for both of them. With fantastic characters dealing with relatable issues and learning to ask for help, readers will love this sweet friends to lovers romance novel set in the English countryside. Bess and Gio are great characters, and the alternating chapters really allow them to develop over the course of the novel. With the solid setting and beautiful location, Rolfe’s world-building is fantastic and really adds to Bess and Gio’s dynamic. A charming, fascinating installment in the Skylarks series, readers will love Rolfe’s new book and Bess and Gio’s story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.

[Jenny McClinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an E-ARC with a request for honest review.

This wonderful romance follows Bess, an air ambulance paramedic and Gio a fire fighter. They used to live together in a house share and are now close friends.

Bess is drowning in debt after living life to the full after her father’s sudden death, she doesn’t know how she can get out of the mess she is in and decides she must confide in others to advise.

Gio loves his job, but with an accident threating the future of his career and the added family drama of the sudden appearance of his mother, he must find a way to keep positive.

Will Bess and Gio become more than friends? Will they solve the issues in their lives?

This romance is a wonderful read and shows how some important issues can affect peoples lives but how having the support around you can help in many situations.

You get to hear from both main characters throughout, which adds to the build up of the ‘will they, won’t they’ as they develop their relationship.

It is lovely to read about Bess & Gio’s families too and adds extra storylines entwining with the main plot, along with a little humour,

Overall, a wonderful romance where two friends find themselves in difficult situations.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen Rolfe has done it again, she has drawn me in, got me hooked, spun me around and always make me happy about it, she always manages to pull every emotion possible from me for these amazing characters I love and leave me on the edge of my seat desperate for a happy ever after, but she always delivers more than I could ever want.
Bess and Gio are friends, both are first responders, things are about to get more complicated for them than their usual days already are, including financial burdens and a potentially career-altering injury, Helen Rolfe handles these difficult issues with such a delicate hand and so beautifully compassionate, I loved how much she clearly cares about her characters and these issues.
This is sucha lovely and thoroughly emotional read, not just the issues mentioned but also family difficulties for both of them, I loved how Bess finally reveals her situation to her mum and how beautiful a moment it is. This story is full of heart, as well as being emotional it still has ther perfect measure of happiness, joy and that Christmas spirit , that spark of magic !
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Bess is part of a helicopter first responder team and Gio is a firefighter and both struggle with some problems in their life. They have been friends for years but now they feel like they could be more...
I liked reading this book. It was interesting, entertaining and had very realistic characters. You learn a lot about the work of first responders. However the story focuses a lot more on the main characters' problems and them trying to deal with them than on the relationship part. Of course they have the occasional encounter but I felt like the relationship doesn't really progress and then in the end - bam, one kiss and now it's off to the HEA. I was under the impression that this was a romance and it didn't really feel like it but maybe that was a misunderstanding on my part. Still an entertaining book though.
I received an ARC via Netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bess, a critical care paramedic with the Skylarks air ambulance service, has struggled since the death of her father and is now trying to deal with growing debts . She has been friends with Gio, a fireman, for years and they often meet up when they both attend incidents. Can they move on from being just good friends?
As with the previous book in the series, Come Fly With Me, I regularly watch fly on the wall documentaries about the air ambulance services and enjoy these books set with this as the backdrop. I felt for Gio's mother, struggling with alcoholism, and the way that this affected her relationship with her sons plus Bess' mother trying to move on after the death of her husband. There is the will they won't they potential romance between Bess and Gio plus updates on others from the previous book. Overall a book that I enjoyed reading.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd book in the series

In this second Skylark's book, the reader is focused on Bess and Gio's stories. In the past, these two have been great friends but nothing more. They've both got tons of baggage from their past relationships as well as their families, and while they have pursued relationships with others, haven't considered each other to be marriage material.

While I felt Bess was immature in the way she handled her finances, I applaud the way that she became self-aware and took steps to clean up her act. Gio was also a bit pouty after his accident, but he also found ways to deal with his disappointment. This was a very slow burn romance, in fact, the romantic part was only a tiny portion starting around 90%. I enjoyed the book for the most part and am looking forward to the next Skylark story.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Lilian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bess and Gio have been friends for about twenty years. While Bess is a Critical care paramedic, Gio is a firefighter. Bess is looking for a committed relationship while Gio doesn’t do long term. One incident causes both of them to re-evaluate their feelings for each other.

Besides the romance, most of the book actually focuses on the parental relationship between Bess and her mom, and between Gio and his mom. Bess is trying to accept that her mom has started dating again, three years after her father’s death. For Gio, his mom has always had a drinking problem but she seems to have sobered up recently with plans to reconcile with him and his brother.

Overall, the book was ok but I didn’t really feel the pull between Bess and Gio. It would have been better to have more flashbacks of how close they were in the past twenty years, to finally bring them to this conclusion.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second Skylarks book we focus on paramedic Bess who has been struggling since the unexpected death of her father. Too cope with her grief she has been spending money beyond her means resulting in a struggle. Gio who is also a first responder but not a paramedic instead he is a fireman also is having struggles within his family in the form of his mother who is a alcoholic. Bess and Gio have great chemistry but will they expect each others hearts? This book is another winner of a thrilling addition to the series and with drama plotted against romance. It's quite exciting and gets the heart racing. I love all the characters and truly appreciate and admire what they do. It's more than just a profession for them and it shines. I enjoyed experiencing the world of flight paramedic and I am already looking forward to reading more!

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The medical setting and contemporary issues explored in this story are well-researched and give it an authenticity. Bess is a critical care paramedic with the air ambulance and is used to working in a life-saving capacity. Still grieving the sudden loss of her father, she has assuaged her grief through work and spending money, resulting in debts. Gio, a firefighter, is trying to support his estranged mother with her addiction. Both use work to escape their personal lives. I like the believably flawed protagonists and the emotions they experience when facing real problems. Their romantic connection is not new but realistically develops as they confide in each other. Whilst this isn't a lighthearted festive read, it is contemporarily relevant, and you care about the characters and what happens in their lives.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing second book in The Skylarks series, Written in the Stars, by the equally remarkable Helen Rolfe!

This story revolves around Bess, a critical care paramedic with The Skylarks, and Gio, a firefighter. Though they’ve known each other for years, both have secrets. Will they be able to confront their challenges and realise they are meant for one another?

I truly appreciate the depth of characters created by Helen. I would love to try one of Nadine’s delicious bakes, but my diabetes says otherwise! Haha. Bess is finally coming to terms with the fact that she can improve her personal life; her professional life is thriving, and it’s inspiring to read about a strong female critical care paramedic.

I can’t wait to dive into the next installment of the series! I highly recommend you get a copy of Written in the Stars using the link below!

[Hayley Marsland · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good to return to Whistlestop River and The Skylarks Air Ambulance Service.

I enjoyed this book so much.

This time we focus on a couple of different main characters, but if you've read the 1st book in the series you will recognise some familiar faces.

There are some great story lines for our main characters.

There are some pretty sensitive issues explored in this book, unrestrained spending, ( to the point of being threatened with court summons ) and alcoholism ( I'm a recovering alcoholic myself, and love how this subject was covered ) and a devastating accident, for another character, but this book is far from all doom and gloom.

It's a gorgeous story, with many up's and downs along the way, and the characters are all very relatable.

Fabulous book, so straight into the third and final installment I go.

[Erin Sparkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a new cozy author! I was so excited after finishing Written In The Stars and finding out how many other books Helen Rolfe has.
Bess has lived every day like it was her last after the unexpected passing of her father a few years ago. Unfortunately her job as an air paramedic doesn’t fund that kind of life and she is financially in over her head. Gio has worked hard to make a stable life for himself. After a rough childhood he is now a firefighter and loves saving people. But when the past come knocking he will have to face the things he has tried hard to forget.
It is a fantastic curl up and read on a cozy night kind of book.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Written In The Stars for review.

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the sequel to Helen’s previous book Come Fly with me but it can easily be read as a stand alone.
This book was excellent and was a lovely romantic Christmas read.
The characters were likeable and I enjoyed learning about the issues they were facing as it brought more to the book that it just being a bog standard romance
I’m hoping there will be more books in this series as there are lots of lovely characters I would like to read more about such as Bess and Gio’s mothers.
Thanks to NetGalley, Helen Rolfe and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Jennifer Jansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's quite a bit going on in this story, but not a lot of romance. Gio and Bess have been friends for a long time, he's a firefighter and she's a flight paramedic. He gets injured on the job and he has a complicated relationship with his mother, a recovering alcoholic, who shows up at his door. Best lost her father a few years ago and her actions in response to the grief has her in a dire financial situation. This story is more about coping with those issues than a romance since Gio and Bess barely interact. It's a slow burn for sure. It was nice reading a story with characters who are my age instead of 20 somethings.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley for this arc unfortunately I did not love this.
1. I am an American hems dispatcher and I really did not like some of the inaccuracies of the UK vs US protocols. Personally it took me out of the story.
2. This read like we were in paw patrol. There was way too much textbook like information being given about the industry that was not needed at all. It was overkill the reader does not need to know about the blood exchange protocol for the company.
3. No romance. Well there was but consider this women’s fiction and not romance. No spice at all.
Overall super bummed but I think it was way too hard to read about my industry in such a weird way

[Susanne Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice cosy read, I love a friends to lovers romance.

Some very heavy issues discussed and dealt with sensitively, debt, alcoholism, injury and mental health. Gio’s back story was very heart wrenching, but I loved how how he tried very hard to psych his relationship with his mum. Bess has a lot to deal with, and it was interesting to see her pull her mask on and go to work. It’s a true reflection of how you never really know what’s really going on with someone unless they choose to let you in.

Some amazing descriptions about rescues and the services offered, a lot of research clearly went into it. Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. A good winter holiday read.