Bowled Over: A Cricket Romance

by Isabella May

When recently dumped ANGELICA flies home from London to Gibraltar, the last thing she needs is more guy drama. But when the plane gets diverted and the passengers have to complete their journey by bus, a delectable but annoying male tries to make her feel guilty for snagging the last seat, leaving him in the torrential rain at midnight when he's starting a new job in the morning. At least he doesn't have to work for the family souvenir shop. He doesn't know how lucky he is!

But little does Angelica realise that she'll soon bump into the man in question in her apartment block's elevator. And that's just the beginning of a string of unexpected encounters, leading to what used to be her happy the cricket stadium.

SETH has only just come to terms with injury blighting his T20 career. He accepted the two year role as Cricket Development Coach in Gib, hoping some sunshine would be the tonic to get his life back on track. But the flight from hell and a face off with the world's most selfish - but irritatingly gorgeous - woman is already ringing alarm bells, and now he can't wait to see out his contract so he can return to England.

As Angelica and her team fight for their rights to access the male-dominated pitch and regain their mojo to compete in tournaments, the chemistry with Seth becomes impossible to resist. Until they are made to choose between the opposing forces of love and loyalty, families and careers...

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2026

About the author

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalusia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the mountains and the sea. She grew up on Glastonbury's ley lines and loves to feature her quirky English hometown in her stories.

After a degree in Modern Languages and European Studies at UWE, Bristol (and a year working abroad in Bordeaux and Stuttgart), Isabella bagged an extremely jammy and fascinating job in children's publishing... selling foreign rights for novelty, board, pop-up and non-fiction books all over the world; in every language from Icelandic to Korean, Bahasa Indonesian to Papiamento!

All of which has fuelled her curiosity and love of international food and travel - both feature extensively in her cross-genre novels, fused with a dollop of romcom, and a sprinkle of magical realism.

Isabella is also a Level 4 Pranic Healer and a stillbirth mum.

You can follow her Foodie Romance Journey series at the following hang-outs:


www.isabellamayauthor.com

Twitter - @IsabellaMayBks
Instagram - @isabella_may_author
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaMayA...

Reviews

[Claire Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Isabella May for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. 🏏 Howzat for a Rom-Com?! 💖
Stop everything! I just finished Bowled Over by Isabella May and let’s just say… I’ve been hit for six! 🏟️✨
If you love a forced proximity trope mixed with some serious enemies-to-lovers energy, you need to add this to your TBR immediately. 📚👇
The Vibe: Angelica is heading back to Gibraltar to lick her wounds after a messy breakup, but the universe has other plans. Cue a flight diversion, a rainy bus ride, and a showdown over the very last seat with a guy who is as annoying as he is gorgeous. 🙄🔥
The Drama: Imagine thinking you’ve escaped your "bus enemy" only to find him in your apartment elevator the next day. Awkward. Enter Seth: a former T20 cricket star dealing with a career-ending injury and a serious case of "I want to go back to England."
Why I loved it:
• The Setting: Gibraltar! 🇬🇮 It felt like a mini-vacation in a book. The sunshine, the souvenir shops, home cooked food and the local drama were so vivid.
• The Stakes: This isn't just about romance. It’s about Angelica and her team fighting for their right to play on a male-dominated pitch. Seeing them find their mojo was so empowering! 💪🏏
• The Chemistry: Seth and Angelica’s sparks could light up the whole stadium. The "love vs. loyalty" conflict at the end had me sweating! 😰❤️
Final Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Perfect for fans of sports romances and stories about fresh starts. It’s funny, feisty, and full of heart.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angelica is on her way home to Gibraltar after a messy breakup with her boyfriend. Seth is a passenger on the same plane and the two meet at the baggage carousel.
They keep bumping into each other and Angelica is horrified to learn he’s the new Cricket Development Coach at her local cricket club of which she’s a member.
Set in Gibraltar, the chemistry between Angelica and Seth was electric from the start and built up to a funny, flirty story which kept me entertained from start to finish.

[Holly Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Angelica and Seth's story... the settings were fantastic, and I found myself dreaming of a visit to Gibraltar to take in the sights and imagine the imagery as the author described it (although, I hope my plane lands and I don't need to catch a coach :D ); I loved the humour and cheeky elements in the story, and I full enjoyed the cricketing references, being a big cricket fan myself.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read that kept me entertained night after night and was the perfect bedtime read to help me unwind.

Loved this!

[Book.Lover.1986 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story.

The storyline flows really well and is an easy cosy read.

a great book to read when the weather is horrible outside this book takes you to Gibraltar so that you can imagine the lovely warm weather instead.

Can't wait to read your next book Isabella.

[Angela Pearse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read book 1 Hit For Six: A Cricket Romance, I couldn't wait to dive into book 2 of the Balls and Banter series. Bowled Over features a different couple (Angelica and Seth) and location (the sunny locale of Gibraltar) but is still based in the T20 cricketing world.

Isabella writes such crazy good meet-cutes and this one in Malaga airport, after a hair-raising easyJet flight, was lol funny. More mishaps and antics ensue when Angelica and Seth keep running into each other at every turn, much to their annoyance and (sexual) frustration.

I loved the opposites attract chemistry between fiery Angelica, the cricket captain, and easygoing Seth, the team's development coach. But there are plenty of obstacles to overcome before this couple gets their HEA, including controlling fathers, cunning ex-girlfriends, clandestine dates gone awry and one hungry barbary macaque. Looking forward to book 3 in this excellent series!

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic spice filled story!
Sparks really flew between Angelica and Seth as they continually had their unexpected meetings where their personalities clashed spectacularly.
Angelica was already struggling with a break up and also trying to make a decision about following her dreams without upsetting her family, and so she certainly wasn’t looking for love.
Seth was facing a huge setback in his cricket career with an injury that forced him to leave his usual role, and he too wasn’t expecting to meet someone who would capture his heart.
It was mesmerising seeing these two characters clash together and then to slowly witness their hatred towards each other turning into friendship and love.
Adored the backdrop of Gibraltar, the beautiful setting added an extra layer of entertainment, as did the complications that were thrown at Angelica and Seth, showing the path of true love is far from smooth.
A fabulous fun romance filled with charismatic characters and scintillating moments set in a gorgeous country.
I was definitely bowled over by this brilliant book!

[L A King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely bowled over by this humorous, good feel book. I was hooked from the beginning, making me grin. The airport chaos is brilliantly done full of sharp timing and that all too relatable travel drama. I especially loved the vivid description of the Rock of Gibraltar, it's written with such clarity and atmosphere that it practically leaps off the page. Once again Isabella May has delivered a well written cricket romance.

This is a fun, lively read with a great sense of place and plenty of charm.