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Back to the Drawing Board: A Branded Hearts Romance
Lauren Hughes likes routine. At 37, she’s had more than her fair share of ups and downs, but her consistent approach to life has been working for the last few years and she has no plans to change. As an award-winning architect, routine keeps her focused and able to manage the demands of the job. Part of what she loves so much about being a dog owner is the need for regularity. Even her social life is strictly timetabled, with every Sunday evening revolving around a call with her three best friends. So, when someone new turns up at her Friday night yoga class, Lauren’s carefully managed routine is thrown into chaos.
A move down to the north of England hadn’t featured in any of Tallie MacLeod’s life-plans, but that’s where she finds herself, with only her dog for company. An interior designer by trade, she snaps up the chance at a trial position with an architectural firm in a last-ditch attempt to get her life back on track after the latest disappointment. She's determined to make a go of it, even though she misses her family back in Scotland. After a day of lugging moving boxes, her aching body demands an hour of yoga, an hour which sets in motion far more than a series of vinyasas.
They say that even the best laid plans often go will Lauren and Tallie have to go back to the drawing board, or will they construct a solid foundation from which to build something truly life-changing?
This is Book Three of the Branded Hearts series, featuring cameo appearances from the stars of Not in the Script and Hot off the Press, along with some scene-stealing moments from pooches Mirren and Kell.
A move down to the north of England hadn’t featured in any of Tallie MacLeod’s life-plans, but that’s where she finds herself, with only her dog for company. An interior designer by trade, she snaps up the chance at a trial position with an architectural firm in a last-ditch attempt to get her life back on track after the latest disappointment. She's determined to make a go of it, even though she misses her family back in Scotland. After a day of lugging moving boxes, her aching body demands an hour of yoga, an hour which sets in motion far more than a series of vinyasas.
They say that even the best laid plans often go will Lauren and Tallie have to go back to the drawing board, or will they construct a solid foundation from which to build something truly life-changing?
This is Book Three of the Branded Hearts series, featuring cameo appearances from the stars of Not in the Script and Hot off the Press, along with some scene-stealing moments from pooches Mirren and Kell.
- GenresWorkplace Romance
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2024
95 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 21, 2024
Number 3 in this excellent series: love the way all keep returning and looking after each other. Hope Naomi’s story is good: she deserves it! Recommended.
September 6, 2024
keep going down hill
I don't know which I'm more upset about: the unbelievable way in which Tallie was willing to give up, or the disappointing way in which the "friend group" seems to have been an afterthought in the story. I mean, that's kind of what makes the story, right?
I'm not sure I want to read the fourth one when it comes out, because I've been slowly getting more disappointed with each issue. I guess we'll see.
I don't know which I'm more upset about: the unbelievable way in which Tallie was willing to give up, or the disappointing way in which the "friend group" seems to have been an afterthought in the story. I mean, that's kind of what makes the story, right?
I'm not sure I want to read the fourth one when it comes out, because I've been slowly getting more disappointed with each issue. I guess we'll see.
August 21, 2024
This is another lovely addition to the Branded Hearts series that started with ‘Not in the Script’ and continued in ‘Hot Off the Press’. Accordingly the couples we met in those two books (Robyn and Charlie and Sarah and Jenna) pop up again here, this time as friends of singleton, Lauren. Lauren is leery of relationships having lost her wife to cancer about five years before. Scot Tallie is equally leery due to a bad breakup. However, when they find themselves in the same yoga class, then working for the same company and then dog walking with their shared love of their canine companions, Lauren and Tallie become close. At first both are convinced they only have a friendship but eventually those pesky feelings start to emerge…
The time span in which Tallie and Lauren fall in love is fairly short but felt long due to the slow burn nature of the writing. I particularly liked the way the author took a number of little time jumps in the story to avoid become bogged down in minutiae. And both Lauren and Tallie are appealing characters, the latter with her love for her close knit family and the former her love for her friends. The angst isn’t overloaded and there’s no ‘breakup before the make up’ (Hurrah!) so this gets a big tick in my book! I’m very much looking forward to Naomi’s story next…
The time span in which Tallie and Lauren fall in love is fairly short but felt long due to the slow burn nature of the writing. I particularly liked the way the author took a number of little time jumps in the story to avoid become bogged down in minutiae. And both Lauren and Tallie are appealing characters, the latter with her love for her close knit family and the former her love for her friends. The angst isn’t overloaded and there’s no ‘breakup before the make up’ (Hurrah!) so this gets a big tick in my book! I’m very much looking forward to Naomi’s story next…
August 24, 2024
A Slow Burn Gentle Romance
Lauren is an award winning architect who lost her wife five years ago to cancer and who thinks she’ll never get a second chance at a love that powerful again. Tallie is a bright accomplished interior designer whose last relationship crashed and burned in a way that makes her wonder if she is really worthy of love.
What starts as an accidental encounter becomes more interesting as they both discover they’ll be co-workers. And then co-workers become friends and friends eventually become lovers.
But Tallie misses home in Scotland. How Lauren and Tallie find their HEA is the story of this book. If you want a sweet gentle romance, read this one. It’s worthwhile.
Lauren is an award winning architect who lost her wife five years ago to cancer and who thinks she’ll never get a second chance at a love that powerful again. Tallie is a bright accomplished interior designer whose last relationship crashed and burned in a way that makes her wonder if she is really worthy of love.
What starts as an accidental encounter becomes more interesting as they both discover they’ll be co-workers. And then co-workers become friends and friends eventually become lovers.
But Tallie misses home in Scotland. How Lauren and Tallie find their HEA is the story of this book. If you want a sweet gentle romance, read this one. It’s worthwhile.
August 24, 2024
Another great tale.
Such a lovely sweet story. It seemed right that there was no big drama though there was a question or hiccup. Too much angst for Lauren would not have been fair. She’d been through enough already. Charlie and Robyn had “nice” cameos. Maybe I shouldn’t use that word here! The book explains the significance of nice. Really looking forward to Naomi’s story next. A lovely way to spend a few hours of your day living in theirs.
Such a lovely sweet story. It seemed right that there was no big drama though there was a question or hiccup. Too much angst for Lauren would not have been fair. She’d been through enough already. Charlie and Robyn had “nice” cameos. Maybe I shouldn’t use that word here! The book explains the significance of nice. Really looking forward to Naomi’s story next. A lovely way to spend a few hours of your day living in theirs.
January 26, 2025
Delightful
A delightful Sapphic romance, well written and great characters and dialogue. I love the cameos by the couples from the previous books in the series. I am really loving this authors work and hope the final member of the group's gets her story soon so I can enjoy that one too. Highly recommended.
A delightful Sapphic romance, well written and great characters and dialogue. I love the cameos by the couples from the previous books in the series. I am really loving this authors work and hope the final member of the group's gets her story soon so I can enjoy that one too. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2025
wow back to the drawing board
Really enjoyed this book love how the friends are still there, the support and love is great so after losing her wife Lauren never thought she would live a full and loving life until she met Tallie their story is heart melting🌹🌈
Really enjoyed this book love how the friends are still there, the support and love is great so after losing her wife Lauren never thought she would live a full and loving life until she met Tallie their story is heart melting🌹🌈
August 26, 2024
Excellent addition to the series. I really have enjoyed all these characters.
September 2, 2024
Nice story
I have enjoyed this fun heartfelt story of on more of the girls that meet in college as continuing there adult life.
I have enjoyed this fun heartfelt story of on more of the girls that meet in college as continuing there adult life.
November 9, 2024
so sweet
Such a beautiful story. Love the main characters, great to revisit characters mentioned in the previous books as well. Can’t wait for book 4.
Such a beautiful story. Love the main characters, great to revisit characters mentioned in the previous books as well. Can’t wait for book 4.
December 13, 2024
Love it! Can't wait to read Naomi's story. Hope there is a 5th story, where the college friends and partners come together and finally meet face to face.
February 3, 2025
Ha! I enjoyed this a bunch. The MCs had chemistry to boot and they didn’t do that miscommunication rubbish. The doggos were also too cute.
April 19, 2025
This is written with as much romance as an ideal counseling or pastoral care verbatim.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews