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One Summer Weekend: A fun, feelgood romance perfect for summer
A heart-warming fun read, perfect for the holidays from this award-winning author!One summer weekend can change everything … Alicia Marlowe’s life as an executive coach is well under control – until she meets her new client, Jack Smith. Jack’s reputation precedes him and Alicia knows immediately that he spells trouble. Not least because he reminds her of someone else – a man who broke her heart and made her resolve never to lower her guard again.Taking Jack on as a client is a risk, but one that Alicia decides to take for the good of her career. As long as she keeps him in his place, she might just make it through unscathed. But Jack has other ideas – including a ‘business’ trip to the Lake District. One summer weekend with him is all it takes to put Alicia’s carefully organised world in a spin …Prequel to Hope, Mistletoe and a Christmas Promise. This is Alicia's story.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2018
14 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Archer
10 books54 followersJuliet Archer describes herself as “a 19th-century mind in a 21st-century body – actually, some days it’s the other way round.” The youngest of four girls, she was born and bred in North-East England, where she met her future husband. Unlike Anne Elliot in Persuasion, she resisted well-meant advice and married young, before graduating from the University of Nottingham with a First in French and Russian. Over thirty years later, she is still married, with two teenage children and a teenage cat, and lives in Hertfordshire – “Pride & Prejudice country”. Like many authors she juggles writing with work and other commitments, so has a very supportive and understanding family – or so they keep telling her!
She has been writing romantic fiction since 2005 and joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2007 – she is currently Chair of their London and South-East branch. Her debut novel, The Importance of Being Emma, published in the UK by Choc Lit, is the first in her series “Darcy & Friends” and was shortlisted for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance. The second novel in the series is Persuade Me (release date September 2011) and she is currently writing Northanger Nights.
Juliet gives talks all over the UK – and in the US – about why and how she’s updating Jane Austen. One of her sisters is married to an American and lives in Ohio, where her son will also be attending college from Fall 2011.
She has been writing romantic fiction since 2005 and joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2007 – she is currently Chair of their London and South-East branch. Her debut novel, The Importance of Being Emma, published in the UK by Choc Lit, is the first in her series “Darcy & Friends” and was shortlisted for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance. The second novel in the series is Persuade Me (release date September 2011) and she is currently writing Northanger Nights.
Juliet gives talks all over the UK – and in the US – about why and how she’s updating Jane Austen. One of her sisters is married to an American and lives in Ohio, where her son will also be attending college from Fall 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 24, 2018
4 Summertime Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m such a sucker for a book with a summery cover/title... wherever the lake district is located it sounds quite beautiful, need to add it to my list of many places I want to visit when I’m in the UK.... this was a sweet short story that put a smile on my face....
Alicia and Jack Meat when Alicia becomes his executive coach... Alicia wants to maintain a professional relationship, but Jack is persistent.... after a weekend in the lake district love blooms... but then Alicia’s ex shows up and things go a little sideways... will Alicia and Jack get their HEA?
This was a short book and because of the length I didn’t get as much character development as I would have liked... wouldn’t mind getting a follow up, I would love to get to know Jack and Chloe better along with some of the secondary characters in this novella...
Recommend to fans of summertime and love💕
*** many thanks to the publisher, the author, and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
I’m such a sucker for a book with a summery cover/title... wherever the lake district is located it sounds quite beautiful, need to add it to my list of many places I want to visit when I’m in the UK.... this was a sweet short story that put a smile on my face....
Alicia and Jack Meat when Alicia becomes his executive coach... Alicia wants to maintain a professional relationship, but Jack is persistent.... after a weekend in the lake district love blooms... but then Alicia’s ex shows up and things go a little sideways... will Alicia and Jack get their HEA?
This was a short book and because of the length I didn’t get as much character development as I would have liked... wouldn’t mind getting a follow up, I would love to get to know Jack and Chloe better along with some of the secondary characters in this novella...
Recommend to fans of summertime and love💕
*** many thanks to the publisher, the author, and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
June 29, 2018
5☆ A Gorgeous Witty Romance
When Alicia meets Jack Smith at a business meeting to become his executive coach the sexual chemistry just oozes off the pages. No matter how hard Alicia tries Jack manages to get under her skin.
Alicia is strong willed and determined not to let Jack risk a business deal. She knows she can keep him at arms length. Even if Jack has other ideas!
I wasn't too worried about the whole job titles, lol in fact I didn't even know executive coaches existed. For me it was the chemistry and wit that mattered.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this charming romantic short read.
I loved the chase of Jack as he pursued Alicia and watching her attempt to keep things professional. The banter between them was sarcastic and witty and at points made me giggle.
The cover for One Summer Weekend is gorgeous and the title is perfect for the story.
I just wish it was longer as I would of loved more. I would of loved to see more of their budding relationship.
I only hope Juliet will write more as I think they would make a great novel.
I can't wait to read more from Juliet.
If you love short novellas that are romantic, witty, charming, fun, then you will love One Summer Weekend.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
When Alicia meets Jack Smith at a business meeting to become his executive coach the sexual chemistry just oozes off the pages. No matter how hard Alicia tries Jack manages to get under her skin.
Alicia is strong willed and determined not to let Jack risk a business deal. She knows she can keep him at arms length. Even if Jack has other ideas!
I wasn't too worried about the whole job titles, lol in fact I didn't even know executive coaches existed. For me it was the chemistry and wit that mattered.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this charming romantic short read.
I loved the chase of Jack as he pursued Alicia and watching her attempt to keep things professional. The banter between them was sarcastic and witty and at points made me giggle.
The cover for One Summer Weekend is gorgeous and the title is perfect for the story.
I just wish it was longer as I would of loved more. I would of loved to see more of their budding relationship.
I only hope Juliet will write more as I think they would make a great novel.
I can't wait to read more from Juliet.
If you love short novellas that are romantic, witty, charming, fun, then you will love One Summer Weekend.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
June 30, 2018
A lovely little novella perfect for summer reading.
I wasn’t sure at first though. I struggled to start with to like Alicia, she didn’t come across as very likeable and certainly not as professional as the character believed they were. However by the end of the book I was rooting for her just as much as Jack.
This is all told from the perspective of Alicia but I’ve read in other reviews that there will soon be a follow up from Jack’s perspective which I’d like to see.
Being a novella it’s a quick read, great for sitting in the garden on a sunny afternoon. And it’s also re-ignited my desire to go back to the Lake District. It’s been far too long. Lovely book, really enjoyed it.
Free arc from netgalley
I wasn’t sure at first though. I struggled to start with to like Alicia, she didn’t come across as very likeable and certainly not as professional as the character believed they were. However by the end of the book I was rooting for her just as much as Jack.
This is all told from the perspective of Alicia but I’ve read in other reviews that there will soon be a follow up from Jack’s perspective which I’d like to see.
Being a novella it’s a quick read, great for sitting in the garden on a sunny afternoon. And it’s also re-ignited my desire to go back to the Lake District. It’s been far too long. Lovely book, really enjoyed it.
Free arc from netgalley
July 9, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
This book has just the most gorgeous colour and I loved it from the moment I saw it - it has to be one of the most eye-catching, attractive covers out there at the moment - and I have to say that the story inside is just as lovely!
This really is a nice book to read, it flows really well and I loved the characters - it is the perfect summer read - Jack and Alicia are great characters and I warmed to them from the outset - 4 stars from me for this one - I really enjoyed it!
This book has just the most gorgeous colour and I loved it from the moment I saw it - it has to be one of the most eye-catching, attractive covers out there at the moment - and I have to say that the story inside is just as lovely!
This really is a nice book to read, it flows really well and I loved the characters - it is the perfect summer read - Jack and Alicia are great characters and I warmed to them from the outset - 4 stars from me for this one - I really enjoyed it!
December 5, 2022
This was an indulgent and a bit of a cheesy romance but I really enjoyed it. It was quite a short read but I didn’t come to notice it as the relationship between Jack and Alicia develops.
From the beginning, the contrast established between the two characters is difficult to ignore. Jack is the playboy: cheeky, with many notches on his bedpost and seemingly uncaring towards any professional boundaries he may have with his new life coach. On the other hand, Alicia is more like a stiff broom: forever reprimanding Jack for his comments, reminding herself that she has a professional contract with this man and denying her growing feelings for this obvious hunk. You get the idea… eventually these boundaries break down to bring the couple together.
However, I can’t deny, some of the earlier scenes between Jack and Alicia did make me cringe. His disregard for Alicia’s personal feelings and the borderline-lewd comments did make my toes curl a little bit. I understand the effect the writer was trying to create and I get that fiction offers escapism. But, there were some points where I almost gasped in disbelief at how forceful Jack became with his sexual innuendoes. Did he really just say that?! It did take a bit of time for me to shrug this off, so I guess readers should take Jack’s advances with a little reminder that they are hyperbolic when compared to Alicia’s standoffishness.
This was a sweet romance read and I loved the main setting of the Lake District. The scenery was described in detail, bringing back many vivid memories. Although this part of the story was about faking a romance, I think it had a pace that some similar stories lacked. I also found it entertaining to see how Alicia’s attitude started to alter towards her coachee, even if she did have to keep reminding herself that she was away for the weekend… on business.
I didn’t grow to care much about the business element of the story. The scenes where Alicia is in London and the office discussions did not really interest me. For once, I just wanted to see the focus on Alicia and Jack: to get a true feel of their feelings and immerse myself in their connection. The debate that happens when Alicia is at a conference is a pivot part of the plot but, I must admit, I did think this started to get a bit tedious as I was reading. Instead, I just wanted to see more interaction between the main couple.
I liked this read because it was one I could immerse myself in and the plot was straight-forward – sometimes in life you need these sorts of books! The summer vibe and the trip to the Lake District created a charm and escapism, adding to the overall optimism of the story. It’s only short but I think the writer could not have developed it any more without the story losing pace.
With thanks to ChocLit for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the beginning, the contrast established between the two characters is difficult to ignore. Jack is the playboy: cheeky, with many notches on his bedpost and seemingly uncaring towards any professional boundaries he may have with his new life coach. On the other hand, Alicia is more like a stiff broom: forever reprimanding Jack for his comments, reminding herself that she has a professional contract with this man and denying her growing feelings for this obvious hunk. You get the idea… eventually these boundaries break down to bring the couple together.
However, I can’t deny, some of the earlier scenes between Jack and Alicia did make me cringe. His disregard for Alicia’s personal feelings and the borderline-lewd comments did make my toes curl a little bit. I understand the effect the writer was trying to create and I get that fiction offers escapism. But, there were some points where I almost gasped in disbelief at how forceful Jack became with his sexual innuendoes. Did he really just say that?! It did take a bit of time for me to shrug this off, so I guess readers should take Jack’s advances with a little reminder that they are hyperbolic when compared to Alicia’s standoffishness.
This was a sweet romance read and I loved the main setting of the Lake District. The scenery was described in detail, bringing back many vivid memories. Although this part of the story was about faking a romance, I think it had a pace that some similar stories lacked. I also found it entertaining to see how Alicia’s attitude started to alter towards her coachee, even if she did have to keep reminding herself that she was away for the weekend… on business.
I didn’t grow to care much about the business element of the story. The scenes where Alicia is in London and the office discussions did not really interest me. For once, I just wanted to see the focus on Alicia and Jack: to get a true feel of their feelings and immerse myself in their connection. The debate that happens when Alicia is at a conference is a pivot part of the plot but, I must admit, I did think this started to get a bit tedious as I was reading. Instead, I just wanted to see more interaction between the main couple.
I liked this read because it was one I could immerse myself in and the plot was straight-forward – sometimes in life you need these sorts of books! The summer vibe and the trip to the Lake District created a charm and escapism, adding to the overall optimism of the story. It’s only short but I think the writer could not have developed it any more without the story losing pace.
With thanks to ChocLit for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2018
One Summer Weekend focuses on Alicia when she meets Jack from a company who have taken her on for her coaching skills. It's obvious there are sparks between the two as soon as they meet, although Alicia tries to fight it all the way.
Alicia does come across as being quite frosty and Jack certainly has his work cut out trying to thaw her. The business trip to the Lake District makes for an idyllic setting and was quite envious of Alicia having a hunky man and stunning views.
Jack was a good love interest being good looking, self assured and someone basically I'm sure most of us would happily fall for. I was certainly interested in getting to know him better.
One Summer Weekend is a novella so didn't take long to read at all. It's ideal if you want a quick and engaging read. With a lovely summery feel cover, it will certainly have you wanting to pack your backs and swan off somewhere nice.
My thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Alicia does come across as being quite frosty and Jack certainly has his work cut out trying to thaw her. The business trip to the Lake District makes for an idyllic setting and was quite envious of Alicia having a hunky man and stunning views.
Jack was a good love interest being good looking, self assured and someone basically I'm sure most of us would happily fall for. I was certainly interested in getting to know him better.
One Summer Weekend is a novella so didn't take long to read at all. It's ideal if you want a quick and engaging read. With a lovely summery feel cover, it will certainly have you wanting to pack your backs and swan off somewhere nice.
My thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
June 8, 2018
When you look at the cover and you see the clear blue sky and it's as if you can feel the sun on your face, you hear the birds sing and you can smell the flowers. It seems like there is no care in the world, but you know that with this kind of books, the road to a happy end is often bumpy and winding. Here it's no different. After a game of attraction and rejection, a few misunderstandings and the much needed reconciliation, two people are reunited and live happily ever after.
That's what I like about this genre. No matter how many obstacles, love always wins.
A nice read where the coachee learns from the coach and vice versa.
Thank you, Juliet Archer and Ruby Fiction.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
That's what I like about this genre. No matter how many obstacles, love always wins.
A nice read where the coachee learns from the coach and vice versa.
Thank you, Juliet Archer and Ruby Fiction.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
July 26, 2018
Alicia is off men after the trouble they have given her in the past and so when she meets Jack and his reputation as a playboy precedes him she is determined to keep her distance especially as he is a client........ but can she fight the chemistry especially in a romantic setting like the Lake District!
A good light read short story, at first I didn't really like the main characters but as you got to know their back stories they started to grow on me and am look forward to reading the follow up from Jack's point of view
A good light read short story, at first I didn't really like the main characters but as you got to know their back stories they started to grow on me and am look forward to reading the follow up from Jack's point of view
May 25, 2018
Let me start by saying what a gorgeous cover, I love it so much and it really does give a great feel for one of the two main settings for this book..the other is far more industrial and not as picturesque as the Lake District!
This is a rather short novella, but within it, there is a great deal of character development, and we get to delve into their pasts too, as well as get a hint of what the future may bring.
It is clear from the start that there is some sort of chemistry between Alicia and Jack but Alicia for many reasons is determined to keep her relationship with Jack professional at most, non existent if at all possible.
Unfortunately I wasn't too interested in either of their jobs which made the initial part of the book a bit slow but it is vital set up for their weekend away in the Lake District which is what I really wanted to read about. I loved everything about the weekend and the descriptions of the landscape gave me a great picture in my imagination.
I am really keen for their to be a sequel to this book as I would love to get to know these characters more. This may have been the first book I have read by Juliet Archer but i'm sure it won't be the last.
Thank you to Netgalley and Choc Lit for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This is a rather short novella, but within it, there is a great deal of character development, and we get to delve into their pasts too, as well as get a hint of what the future may bring.
It is clear from the start that there is some sort of chemistry between Alicia and Jack but Alicia for many reasons is determined to keep her relationship with Jack professional at most, non existent if at all possible.
Unfortunately I wasn't too interested in either of their jobs which made the initial part of the book a bit slow but it is vital set up for their weekend away in the Lake District which is what I really wanted to read about. I loved everything about the weekend and the descriptions of the landscape gave me a great picture in my imagination.
I am really keen for their to be a sequel to this book as I would love to get to know these characters more. This may have been the first book I have read by Juliet Archer but i'm sure it won't be the last.
Thank you to Netgalley and Choc Lit for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 7, 2018
I think I have mentioned before in my reviews that I don't often read short stories/novellas as I prefer to really get to know the characters and have a bit more depth to the plot which usually only happens with a full length novel. This book from Juliet Archer has once again blown that theory completely out of the water.
We meet Alicia in her role as an executive coach and I found her to be particularly frosty and clinical in her approach to life and the problems it has a tendency to throw at every one of us at some time in our lives. It's as though she has read the textbook and lives by the rules set down in it - grey areas just do not exist in her world. Then as the pages turned, I gradually started to see another side to her and began to wonder just what had made her build the barriers which she so clearly lives behind.
Her client Jack Smith appears to be outgoing, confident - literally "Jack the lad" amongst the ladies with his dashing good looks and fly-by-night attitude. Something about him obviously hits a nerve with Alicia so she redoubles her efforts to keep him at arms length with icy responses to any of his questions and the metaphoric walls she has built begin to feel more like physical ones the more the two characters interact.
As part of Jack's coaching experience Alicia asks to observe him in a business setting with a client which results in Alicia finding herself travelling to the Lake District and feeling well and truly out of her depth. Jack hasn't been entirely honest with Alicia or his clients and the weekend starts with a very awkward scenario which Alicia really isn't comfortable with. I loved the characters Bill and Midge, Jack's clients, and really enjoyed how their role in the book panned out. The descriptions of the scenery they live amidst are beautiful - so much so that I have added a trip to the area to my list of places I want to explore one day.
During their stay in the countryside Jack and Alicia gradually learn more about each other and slowly but surely start to knock down each other's defences. It's difficult to go into too much detail without spoiling the story for anyone yet to read the book but their journey is not without its hurdles and there is more than one occasion where I wondered whether the pair would actually manage to complete the coaching exercise let alone reach a point where they would understand what made the other tick.
Although the two main characters are prominent in this story I love the supporting cast of characters who pepper the book throughout. From ex partners to business associates there are some nicely crafted personalities that the author has written in; some only make fleeting appearances but influence the overall story quite significantly, which I feel made the book work very well.
For a short story there is still a satisfying depth to this book, so if you fancy something fairly quick to read but which is still fulfilling then this is definitely one worth picking up.
We meet Alicia in her role as an executive coach and I found her to be particularly frosty and clinical in her approach to life and the problems it has a tendency to throw at every one of us at some time in our lives. It's as though she has read the textbook and lives by the rules set down in it - grey areas just do not exist in her world. Then as the pages turned, I gradually started to see another side to her and began to wonder just what had made her build the barriers which she so clearly lives behind.
Her client Jack Smith appears to be outgoing, confident - literally "Jack the lad" amongst the ladies with his dashing good looks and fly-by-night attitude. Something about him obviously hits a nerve with Alicia so she redoubles her efforts to keep him at arms length with icy responses to any of his questions and the metaphoric walls she has built begin to feel more like physical ones the more the two characters interact.
As part of Jack's coaching experience Alicia asks to observe him in a business setting with a client which results in Alicia finding herself travelling to the Lake District and feeling well and truly out of her depth. Jack hasn't been entirely honest with Alicia or his clients and the weekend starts with a very awkward scenario which Alicia really isn't comfortable with. I loved the characters Bill and Midge, Jack's clients, and really enjoyed how their role in the book panned out. The descriptions of the scenery they live amidst are beautiful - so much so that I have added a trip to the area to my list of places I want to explore one day.
During their stay in the countryside Jack and Alicia gradually learn more about each other and slowly but surely start to knock down each other's defences. It's difficult to go into too much detail without spoiling the story for anyone yet to read the book but their journey is not without its hurdles and there is more than one occasion where I wondered whether the pair would actually manage to complete the coaching exercise let alone reach a point where they would understand what made the other tick.
Although the two main characters are prominent in this story I love the supporting cast of characters who pepper the book throughout. From ex partners to business associates there are some nicely crafted personalities that the author has written in; some only make fleeting appearances but influence the overall story quite significantly, which I feel made the book work very well.
For a short story there is still a satisfying depth to this book, so if you fancy something fairly quick to read but which is still fulfilling then this is definitely one worth picking up.
July 3, 2018
This is a lovely novella that I'm sure I would have enjoyed in the winter too in spite of its very summery cover. The hero, Jack, doesn't appear very likeable for a while, but keep in mind that Alicia's judgement is altered by what she thinks she knows of his life and by what happened to her in the past. By the end of the story, I was very happy to see a "next instalment" announced in the author's Thank You note.
June 28, 2018
This book is a short and sweet summertime read about misconceptions, hang ups and reluctant attraction. Alicia has a troubled romantic past and has no intention of getting involved with a man again, especially a client, and especially one with as bad a reputation as Jack Smith. But you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the gossip columns.
This story is told from Alicia’s perspective (I believe there is a sequel coming which is Jack’s take on the story) so is entirely coloured by her world view and life experiences and, boy, is she quick to jump to conclusions! In fact, she’s made up her mind about Jack before she even meets him and doesn’t really give him a chance. She came across to me as a bit pompous and judgmental to begin with, but the reasons for that become a little more obvious as the story unfolds.
Jack was easy to like and he made me wish Alicia would give him the benefit of the doubt, which was the point of the story. It does not delve too deeply into his history and I feel there is more to Jack than we discover in this book, so I’m looking forward to the sequel.
The setting of the story – mainly in the beautiful Lake District – was wonderful, the author did a great job bringing its splendour to life and I was charmed by the whole section involving Bill and Midge in their holiday home (the book cover perfectly encapsulated how I imagined their cottage to look in my mind(. I was less happy about how dire she made the location of Jack’s factory sound; it was a bit of a stereotype of a ‘it’s grim up North’ industrial town that, as a Northern girl, I didn’t entirely appreciate but it is a minor niggle and I’m guessing she did it to contrast with the beauty of the Lakes but it could have done with being reined in a tiny bit!
Despite being very short, Juliet packed a lot in to the book and made a good job of it not being too obvious what was going to happen. One twist I thought was coming didn’t and then the book took a completely unexpected turn, so it kept me on my toes which is refreshing in a book of this nature. On the down side, given how much Alicia banged on about professionalism, I was surprised and a bit unconvinced about how quickly she herself abandoned these principles but, this is a summer romance not a gritty real-life memoir so I decided to go with it and enjoy it for what it is.
This book is a short and easy read with a beautiful setting and likeable characters and enough action to keep you interested for the couple of hours it will take you to read it. If you are looking for something undemanding to take to your lounger on a lazy, summer afternoon, this book will be perfect and I’m looking forward to the sequel.
This story is told from Alicia’s perspective (I believe there is a sequel coming which is Jack’s take on the story) so is entirely coloured by her world view and life experiences and, boy, is she quick to jump to conclusions! In fact, she’s made up her mind about Jack before she even meets him and doesn’t really give him a chance. She came across to me as a bit pompous and judgmental to begin with, but the reasons for that become a little more obvious as the story unfolds.
Jack was easy to like and he made me wish Alicia would give him the benefit of the doubt, which was the point of the story. It does not delve too deeply into his history and I feel there is more to Jack than we discover in this book, so I’m looking forward to the sequel.
The setting of the story – mainly in the beautiful Lake District – was wonderful, the author did a great job bringing its splendour to life and I was charmed by the whole section involving Bill and Midge in their holiday home (the book cover perfectly encapsulated how I imagined their cottage to look in my mind(. I was less happy about how dire she made the location of Jack’s factory sound; it was a bit of a stereotype of a ‘it’s grim up North’ industrial town that, as a Northern girl, I didn’t entirely appreciate but it is a minor niggle and I’m guessing she did it to contrast with the beauty of the Lakes but it could have done with being reined in a tiny bit!
Despite being very short, Juliet packed a lot in to the book and made a good job of it not being too obvious what was going to happen. One twist I thought was coming didn’t and then the book took a completely unexpected turn, so it kept me on my toes which is refreshing in a book of this nature. On the down side, given how much Alicia banged on about professionalism, I was surprised and a bit unconvinced about how quickly she herself abandoned these principles but, this is a summer romance not a gritty real-life memoir so I decided to go with it and enjoy it for what it is.
This book is a short and easy read with a beautiful setting and likeable characters and enough action to keep you interested for the couple of hours it will take you to read it. If you are looking for something undemanding to take to your lounger on a lazy, summer afternoon, this book will be perfect and I’m looking forward to the sequel.
June 20, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
I am very torn with this one! I don't know whether to listen to my heart or my head, especially when both have such conflicting opinions of the storyline and the characters involved.
If I were to listen to my head, I would say that I found the whole situation with Jack quite bitter due to the way he acted. There are a lot of reports in the media at the moment regarding people like Jack, and I feel that with Alicia adapting herself to his personality instead of listening to her own gut instinct, it made the #MeToo movement appear less poignant. Jack is an extremely egotistical and arrogant man at first. He believes that he can lure a woman into his 'web' with his cocksure attitude and roaming eyes, actions that made me cringe more than once. I can appreciate the link between him and Alicia's ex and what the author was trying to convey there, but there was a large portion of the storyline where Jack turned my stomach. I would have loved it if Alicia did listen to her gut instinct instead of pandering to his actions, making him believe that they're okay. They're not.
If I were to listen to my heart, I would say the above BUT, I would also say that as the storyline progressed, Jack's personality completely changed and he came out of his shell in a way that perceived him as a brand new character. Looking back now, I can't see how the Jack we got to know first, is the same man I ended up adoring by the end of the book. The same goes with Alicia. As for the storyline itself, I did thoroughly enjoy the overall premise and the additional romantic moments, as it made me believe the whole theory of kissing frogs to find your prince. I thought the second half of the novel was a heck of a lot more substantial than the first part, and I truly believe that Juliet Archer came into her own, making her writing shine like a beacon as the storyline progressed. It was as though the author finally believed in her characters and what the journey that they were on, and that definitely came across in her writing.
So, you can see why I am torn. Jack's character at the beginning, put a huge dampener on my feelings for the book, yet I did end up really enjoying his character and everything the storyline stood for, by the time I had reached the end of the book. I am just so glad that I was able to see the author's writing shine as that allowed me to finish the book on a very good note.
I am very torn with this one! I don't know whether to listen to my heart or my head, especially when both have such conflicting opinions of the storyline and the characters involved.
If I were to listen to my head, I would say that I found the whole situation with Jack quite bitter due to the way he acted. There are a lot of reports in the media at the moment regarding people like Jack, and I feel that with Alicia adapting herself to his personality instead of listening to her own gut instinct, it made the #MeToo movement appear less poignant. Jack is an extremely egotistical and arrogant man at first. He believes that he can lure a woman into his 'web' with his cocksure attitude and roaming eyes, actions that made me cringe more than once. I can appreciate the link between him and Alicia's ex and what the author was trying to convey there, but there was a large portion of the storyline where Jack turned my stomach. I would have loved it if Alicia did listen to her gut instinct instead of pandering to his actions, making him believe that they're okay. They're not.
If I were to listen to my heart, I would say the above BUT, I would also say that as the storyline progressed, Jack's personality completely changed and he came out of his shell in a way that perceived him as a brand new character. Looking back now, I can't see how the Jack we got to know first, is the same man I ended up adoring by the end of the book. The same goes with Alicia. As for the storyline itself, I did thoroughly enjoy the overall premise and the additional romantic moments, as it made me believe the whole theory of kissing frogs to find your prince. I thought the second half of the novel was a heck of a lot more substantial than the first part, and I truly believe that Juliet Archer came into her own, making her writing shine like a beacon as the storyline progressed. It was as though the author finally believed in her characters and what the journey that they were on, and that definitely came across in her writing.
So, you can see why I am torn. Jack's character at the beginning, put a huge dampener on my feelings for the book, yet I did end up really enjoying his character and everything the storyline stood for, by the time I had reached the end of the book. I am just so glad that I was able to see the author's writing shine as that allowed me to finish the book on a very good note.
June 22, 2018
One Summer Weekend’s blurb says Alicia Marlowe’s life as an executive coach is well under control.
Only not so much.
I’d say her job was more a well-placed mask to hide the three-year-old emotional scars never far from her thoughts and her main motivation to keep people at arm’s length… especially men.
Enter Jack Smith, a complete opposite of the stodgy, middle-aged male execs she’s used to coaching.
Alicia did her homework. She researched Jack’s immediate background to get some insight into whom she’s dealing with. Finding his player persona played out in the media, Alicia decides she’ll need to set some ground rules and keep the contract completely professional so Mr. Smith knows there’s no chance of things becoming personal between them.
Besides, Jack’s ‘reputation’ reminds Alicia of him and there’s no way she’s ever going down that road again.
Whatever, Alicia.
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jack from the start. Swayed by media accounts, Alicia prejudged him and found him lacking…. and loathsome. But she gets taken down a peg or two. Her boss, Stuart, nailed it when he accused her of “gunning for this Smith guy before you’d even met him.”
His words give her pause and add to her jumbled thoughts when she finds herself too close to Jack for her own good… and for an entire weekend.
Alicia allows her guard to slip as she finds out Jack isn’t who she believed him to be. He actually has a past more heartbreaking than Alicia’s and she realizes this. However, an appearance by him—Troy Randall Travers (how pretentious) mucks things up royally. Alicia attempts to exorcise her three-year-old demons while verbal sparring with Troy during a business conference, not realizing Jack has walked away.
Only Alicia can fix this, but she has to decide IF she wants to and how to go about it.
While I wanted to choke the life out of Alicia Marlowe during her first meeting with Jack and later after she overheard the conversation with Nick because… RUDENESS isn’t professional, it’s personal; I was cheering for her when, at last, she put her past behind her and took the initiative to reach out to Jack.
Special props to Bill and Midge—Midge is simply too adorable!
An enjoyable, quick romantic comedy with relatable characters, One Summer Weekend is an ideal beach read.
Enjoy!
Only not so much.
I’d say her job was more a well-placed mask to hide the three-year-old emotional scars never far from her thoughts and her main motivation to keep people at arm’s length… especially men.
Enter Jack Smith, a complete opposite of the stodgy, middle-aged male execs she’s used to coaching.
Alicia did her homework. She researched Jack’s immediate background to get some insight into whom she’s dealing with. Finding his player persona played out in the media, Alicia decides she’ll need to set some ground rules and keep the contract completely professional so Mr. Smith knows there’s no chance of things becoming personal between them.
Besides, Jack’s ‘reputation’ reminds Alicia of him and there’s no way she’s ever going down that road again.
Whatever, Alicia.
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jack from the start. Swayed by media accounts, Alicia prejudged him and found him lacking…. and loathsome. But she gets taken down a peg or two. Her boss, Stuart, nailed it when he accused her of “gunning for this Smith guy before you’d even met him.”
His words give her pause and add to her jumbled thoughts when she finds herself too close to Jack for her own good… and for an entire weekend.
Alicia allows her guard to slip as she finds out Jack isn’t who she believed him to be. He actually has a past more heartbreaking than Alicia’s and she realizes this. However, an appearance by him—Troy Randall Travers (how pretentious) mucks things up royally. Alicia attempts to exorcise her three-year-old demons while verbal sparring with Troy during a business conference, not realizing Jack has walked away.
Only Alicia can fix this, but she has to decide IF she wants to and how to go about it.
While I wanted to choke the life out of Alicia Marlowe during her first meeting with Jack and later after she overheard the conversation with Nick because… RUDENESS isn’t professional, it’s personal; I was cheering for her when, at last, she put her past behind her and took the initiative to reach out to Jack.
Special props to Bill and Midge—Midge is simply too adorable!
An enjoyable, quick romantic comedy with relatable characters, One Summer Weekend is an ideal beach read.
Enjoy!
June 24, 2018
I don’t often give out 5 stars for a book that I consider a shorter read. One Summer Weekend is just 128 pages, so for me, I consider that a shorter book. Anyway, shorter reads aren’t usually my favorites to read either because I feel like they are either rushed or they don’t give a complete story. However, I had to give this one 5 stars. It was very well-written, the characters were well-developed, and I felt like the pacing was perfect.
Alicia likes to live her life with complete control, both professionally and personally. The only time she was carefree ended in disaster, and she has no intention of having her heart broken ever again. When she takes on her new client, Jack, she knows she will have to work quite hard to remain in control. If not, he could spell disaster for her career and her heart.
Jack is very successful, and he has worked hard to be the success in business that he is. However, he also knows he needs some professional coaching if he is going to remain a success. He also has a reputation with the ladies in his personal life, so Alicia knows Jack will be a challenge.
Who knew these two would challenge each other and the perceptions each of them held? Alicia sees him as no other than a womanizer, and he sees her as too uptight. One weekend that was supposed to be business yet quickly turns personal is about to throw them both into a tailspin. They will realize none of the perceptions they held about the other is true.
Even though this was a pretty fast romance, I liked it!!! Archer didn’t skimp on any of the emotions. I liked seeing Alicia give up some of her control and just operate on her emotions. That made me like her more. Alicia had a way of putting Jack at ease. They perfectly complemented the other, and they also helped heal each other from their past relationships.
Archer knows how to create a setting. Sometimes I think that is an aspect of writing that gets lost, but not in this book! In fact, I even stopped reading to research the English Lake District to see if it matched what I was seeing in my imagination, and it was far more beautiful than I imagined. It helped create the atmosphere that Alicia and Jack needed to fall in love.
This was really a great read!!! Archer is a new writer for me, and I must say, I’m very impressed. I can’t wait to read her other books as well!
Alicia likes to live her life with complete control, both professionally and personally. The only time she was carefree ended in disaster, and she has no intention of having her heart broken ever again. When she takes on her new client, Jack, she knows she will have to work quite hard to remain in control. If not, he could spell disaster for her career and her heart.
Jack is very successful, and he has worked hard to be the success in business that he is. However, he also knows he needs some professional coaching if he is going to remain a success. He also has a reputation with the ladies in his personal life, so Alicia knows Jack will be a challenge.
Who knew these two would challenge each other and the perceptions each of them held? Alicia sees him as no other than a womanizer, and he sees her as too uptight. One weekend that was supposed to be business yet quickly turns personal is about to throw them both into a tailspin. They will realize none of the perceptions they held about the other is true.
Even though this was a pretty fast romance, I liked it!!! Archer didn’t skimp on any of the emotions. I liked seeing Alicia give up some of her control and just operate on her emotions. That made me like her more. Alicia had a way of putting Jack at ease. They perfectly complemented the other, and they also helped heal each other from their past relationships.
Archer knows how to create a setting. Sometimes I think that is an aspect of writing that gets lost, but not in this book! In fact, I even stopped reading to research the English Lake District to see if it matched what I was seeing in my imagination, and it was far more beautiful than I imagined. It helped create the atmosphere that Alicia and Jack needed to fall in love.
This was really a great read!!! Archer is a new writer for me, and I must say, I’m very impressed. I can’t wait to read her other books as well!
June 29, 2018
This is the story of how business is never really just business...
Think about it. There's always an element of personal that sneaks its way through no matter how closely guarded we are, but that's what makes each relationship "special"...though Alicia had no intention of THIS relationship becoming anything other than another day at the office. Hahahahaha! The best laid plans of mice and men...or women... Things start off just fine, client and coach getting to know what the other needs, their goals, dreams, perceived obstacles, and developing a plan of attack. Same old same old...except for Alicia, there's a little TOO much of the "same old" bringing memories better left behind to the surface with a vengeance. It colors her world from rosy to the vibrant reds of you-know-where, and makes the sparks already apparent between them THAT much more dangerous. Speaking of "them"...let's meet the other half of this equation, Jack.
Jack is an interesting man. On the outside, a playboy, cycling through the latest round of arm candy while making millions to pad his lifestyle...but is that who he is on the inside? Sometimes looks can be deceiving, and we all know the internet/media NEVER lies (*giggle), so all the "research" Alicia did in preparation for her client was rock solid. Yeah...if you believe all that, I've got a lost city to sell you too. *smirk* Suffice it to say, there's more lurking beneath the surface than meets the eye, though the eye will indeed be pleased, much to the chagrin of our leading lady...then again, sometimes the teacher, or in this case the coach, needs to teach thyself. There's always room for improvement, and it's never too late for love.
In the end, I fell in love with the COVER, took the deep dive into the CONTENT, and stayed gloriously glued to the page for the CHARACTERS. It was a win-win overall with nary a sideways word I could speak. True, when I was about halfway along, I was thinking...how can this story continue when we've reached this particular point...but then the author surprised me, throwing a monkey wrench here and there to otherwise offset a tantalizing story that might have ended all too soon. Recommended for Contemporary Romance fans who love playful banter and the possibility of a HEA without that guarantee.
**copy received for review
Think about it. There's always an element of personal that sneaks its way through no matter how closely guarded we are, but that's what makes each relationship "special"...though Alicia had no intention of THIS relationship becoming anything other than another day at the office. Hahahahaha! The best laid plans of mice and men...or women... Things start off just fine, client and coach getting to know what the other needs, their goals, dreams, perceived obstacles, and developing a plan of attack. Same old same old...except for Alicia, there's a little TOO much of the "same old" bringing memories better left behind to the surface with a vengeance. It colors her world from rosy to the vibrant reds of you-know-where, and makes the sparks already apparent between them THAT much more dangerous. Speaking of "them"...let's meet the other half of this equation, Jack.
Jack is an interesting man. On the outside, a playboy, cycling through the latest round of arm candy while making millions to pad his lifestyle...but is that who he is on the inside? Sometimes looks can be deceiving, and we all know the internet/media NEVER lies (*giggle), so all the "research" Alicia did in preparation for her client was rock solid. Yeah...if you believe all that, I've got a lost city to sell you too. *smirk* Suffice it to say, there's more lurking beneath the surface than meets the eye, though the eye will indeed be pleased, much to the chagrin of our leading lady...then again, sometimes the teacher, or in this case the coach, needs to teach thyself. There's always room for improvement, and it's never too late for love.
In the end, I fell in love with the COVER, took the deep dive into the CONTENT, and stayed gloriously glued to the page for the CHARACTERS. It was a win-win overall with nary a sideways word I could speak. True, when I was about halfway along, I was thinking...how can this story continue when we've reached this particular point...but then the author surprised me, throwing a monkey wrench here and there to otherwise offset a tantalizing story that might have ended all too soon. Recommended for Contemporary Romance fans who love playful banter and the possibility of a HEA without that guarantee.
**copy received for review
June 25, 2018
This was the first Juliet Archer's book I have ever read and I quite enjoyed it.
The book starts with the first meeting between executive coach Alicia Marlowe and Jack Smith, her new client. Alicia is completely dedicated to her job and from the very beginning is well aware that this job is going to be a hard one. And I must say that I don't know much about the world of a executive coach, but I found the concept of the it all quite intriguing.
But things are not mainly about the coaching, it's also about the chemistry between Jack and Alicia. However, Alicia and Jack’s interactions and relationship's development was fun to read. I loved seeing Alicia's and Jack's development as the relationship began to grow, it made the story a lot relatable and real. And when we get to the weekend... That was amazing and I just got pulled in more.
The descriptions and the way the author writes just made everything much more visual and it made it possible for me to enjoy the book and see all the colors and images in my mind. That, plus the fast pace in the storyline played with my emotions and I liked getting to know the characters and learning about their pasts and thought as I read the book.
Since I'm from Portugal and I haven't traveled that much, I love reading about other places and reading is the best because it makes it possible for me to just "travel" (in my mind) and have fun in an adventure. When the place I'm reading about truly exists, I always do a Google search and try to learn more about that place, and that's what I did with this book. I had never heard of this Lake District before, so I was curious because it sound so lovely, and after my search, I'm even curious.
It was beautiful, more than I had imagine. I can see why Juliet would use that setting for her book, it really helps creating the perfect atmosphere that the storyline needs to get things moving.
"One Summer Weekend" is a wonderful story that truly get us to this weekend moment and is a fantastic read for Summer time. Actually, I recommend it for a relaxing day on the beach, or at home, wherever you like to read.
Thank you Juliet and Rachel for this book and the opportunity to read and give my honest review of this book as part of the blog tour.
The book starts with the first meeting between executive coach Alicia Marlowe and Jack Smith, her new client. Alicia is completely dedicated to her job and from the very beginning is well aware that this job is going to be a hard one. And I must say that I don't know much about the world of a executive coach, but I found the concept of the it all quite intriguing.
But things are not mainly about the coaching, it's also about the chemistry between Jack and Alicia. However, Alicia and Jack’s interactions and relationship's development was fun to read. I loved seeing Alicia's and Jack's development as the relationship began to grow, it made the story a lot relatable and real. And when we get to the weekend... That was amazing and I just got pulled in more.
The descriptions and the way the author writes just made everything much more visual and it made it possible for me to enjoy the book and see all the colors and images in my mind. That, plus the fast pace in the storyline played with my emotions and I liked getting to know the characters and learning about their pasts and thought as I read the book.
Since I'm from Portugal and I haven't traveled that much, I love reading about other places and reading is the best because it makes it possible for me to just "travel" (in my mind) and have fun in an adventure. When the place I'm reading about truly exists, I always do a Google search and try to learn more about that place, and that's what I did with this book. I had never heard of this Lake District before, so I was curious because it sound so lovely, and after my search, I'm even curious.
It was beautiful, more than I had imagine. I can see why Juliet would use that setting for her book, it really helps creating the perfect atmosphere that the storyline needs to get things moving.
"One Summer Weekend" is a wonderful story that truly get us to this weekend moment and is a fantastic read for Summer time. Actually, I recommend it for a relaxing day on the beach, or at home, wherever you like to read.
Thank you Juliet and Rachel for this book and the opportunity to read and give my honest review of this book as part of the blog tour.
June 20, 2018
This quick read is a clean romance. Alicia is hired as an executive coach to help Jack become better at business, or rather at how he deals with business communications. She has been successful in the past with clients who were typically older, and less sexually appealing. All she knows about Jack is his reputation as a ladies man. So she develops opinions ahead of time.
Having had a past bad experience with a player, Alicia's personal armour is in place.
Jack doesn't know why this beautiful woman is so difficult, but he does love a challenge.
When she suggests they take the coaching away from the workplace, and Jack has a situation that needs handling, he takes advantage of the opportunity.
I think the author did miss an opportunity here. It would have made for entertaining reading if Jack's former love had shown up while he and Alicia were away for the weekend. I also would have loved to see how Midge would deal with Karina. They could even have given her some help she badly needs, but that is another book.
The other area where I felt this story glossed over something needing more investigation was dealing with Jack's motivation and his father's death. Even if that is spelled out further in Jack's story, and this book is Alicia's story, I would have liked it better explained here, rather than just in passing.
As I just said, this is Alicia's story. Not only about dealing with a sexy client but dealing with her own past wounds. The book is a nice, romantic read but perhaps too gentle. The only real tension comes when Alicia has to physically confront her past at a conference. All the other conflicts are only mildly irritating, not really tension inducing.
If you are looking for a quick, clean read with some emotional healing, you will enjoy this book.
The author has a talent with phrasing. " ...I'd felt like this - a butterfly on the point of a pin..."
I especially enjoyed her analysis reports.
I appreciated this brief cleansing of my reading palate between grittier reads.
Having had a past bad experience with a player, Alicia's personal armour is in place.
Jack doesn't know why this beautiful woman is so difficult, but he does love a challenge.
When she suggests they take the coaching away from the workplace, and Jack has a situation that needs handling, he takes advantage of the opportunity.
I think the author did miss an opportunity here. It would have made for entertaining reading if Jack's former love had shown up while he and Alicia were away for the weekend. I also would have loved to see how Midge would deal with Karina. They could even have given her some help she badly needs, but that is another book.
The other area where I felt this story glossed over something needing more investigation was dealing with Jack's motivation and his father's death. Even if that is spelled out further in Jack's story, and this book is Alicia's story, I would have liked it better explained here, rather than just in passing.
As I just said, this is Alicia's story. Not only about dealing with a sexy client but dealing with her own past wounds. The book is a nice, romantic read but perhaps too gentle. The only real tension comes when Alicia has to physically confront her past at a conference. All the other conflicts are only mildly irritating, not really tension inducing.
If you are looking for a quick, clean read with some emotional healing, you will enjoy this book.
The author has a talent with phrasing. " ...I'd felt like this - a butterfly on the point of a pin..."
I especially enjoyed her analysis reports.
I appreciated this brief cleansing of my reading palate between grittier reads.
June 22, 2018
In this novella, we meet Alicia (again what a fab name), an executive coach, who has been tasked with a new client. In walks, Jack Smith, who is arrogant and if you listen to the tabloids is a player with the ladies. Alicia has already written him off and is strictly business with him, Jack likes to flirt and joke around - Alicia does not find this acceptable.
In order for Alicia to help Jack, for some reason, she has to go away for the weekend with him on a business trip. The client, are also good friends of Jack, and Alicia has to pretend for the weekend in the Lake District that she is his girlfriend, what could go wrong?
Being a novella, you know things are going to progress and quick. We learn quite a bit of their backstory, but there were still some gaps that I would have loved to been answered. Due to Alicia 'researching' Jack, she had made a judgement on him before she had met him and wrote him off as a womaniser. I mean I get we would all do that, but she shut him down completely at the start, then when they got to the weekend away after a couple of wines she kissed him. I thought it was progressed probably a bit too quickly in terms of their feelings for each other with the little time they spent together. The judgement she had made on Jack was based on "him", the mysterious man from her past, who left her completely heartbroken and turned her into the Ice Queen, cue the drama for later on in the book. I did love Jack, albeit the arrogance, but he had a huge heart and knew his flaws.
I did LOVE the walk they went on in the Lake District, as the descriptions of the views sounded breathtaking. For someone who has never been there, but always longed to, I felt like I could picture it perfectly.
This is a perfect read, sitting in the garden in the early evening with a nice glass of wine (well we have to keep up with Alicia and Jack!)
*Thank you so much to Rachel at Rachel Random Resources and the author Juliet Archer for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion*
In order for Alicia to help Jack, for some reason, she has to go away for the weekend with him on a business trip. The client, are also good friends of Jack, and Alicia has to pretend for the weekend in the Lake District that she is his girlfriend, what could go wrong?
Being a novella, you know things are going to progress and quick. We learn quite a bit of their backstory, but there were still some gaps that I would have loved to been answered. Due to Alicia 'researching' Jack, she had made a judgement on him before she had met him and wrote him off as a womaniser. I mean I get we would all do that, but she shut him down completely at the start, then when they got to the weekend away after a couple of wines she kissed him. I thought it was progressed probably a bit too quickly in terms of their feelings for each other with the little time they spent together. The judgement she had made on Jack was based on "him", the mysterious man from her past, who left her completely heartbroken and turned her into the Ice Queen, cue the drama for later on in the book. I did love Jack, albeit the arrogance, but he had a huge heart and knew his flaws.
I did LOVE the walk they went on in the Lake District, as the descriptions of the views sounded breathtaking. For someone who has never been there, but always longed to, I felt like I could picture it perfectly.
This is a perfect read, sitting in the garden in the early evening with a nice glass of wine (well we have to keep up with Alicia and Jack!)
*Thank you so much to Rachel at Rachel Random Resources and the author Juliet Archer for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion*
June 19, 2018
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
Take one workaholic, overworked CEO in need of some professional coaching, add one slightly standoffish, not gonna fall for his charms professional coach, mix well, add in a weekend getaway… and you have a magical, perfect for the beach or backyard romance.
Jack has a mind for business and a body for sin plus enough charm to work his magic on most people… except Alicia. For Alicia, Jack is everything she does not want in a man. She’s superimposed another man’s actions, one who broke her heart, onto Jack almost from their first meeting. She will not fall for his charm, looks or abilities, ever. The perfect setup for romance, win the lady over and we all live happily ever after… not so fast though. It’s going to take a bit of serious determination to work through Alicia’s stubbornness, and a weekend away in a beautiful setting all for business, of course, may be the answer Jack is searching for to win this lady’s heart.
It took me a little bit to warm up to Alicia, but once Jack starts to work his charming personality on her she slowly starts to change for me. Jack is just adorable, serious when needed for business and likable when he’s off the clock. I liked Jack, so I have to admit that I was definitely Team Jack on this one. Watching them work their way through misunderstandings, some prejudgment and opinions that weren’t truly accurate was a fun and engaging journey. If you’re stocking your summer reading shelf then One Summer Weekend would be perfect… actually, for any time of the year. It’s a fun, realistic, enjoyable romance, and one that I’d recommend to any Contemporary Romance reader.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Take one workaholic, overworked CEO in need of some professional coaching, add one slightly standoffish, not gonna fall for his charms professional coach, mix well, add in a weekend getaway… and you have a magical, perfect for the beach or backyard romance.
Jack has a mind for business and a body for sin plus enough charm to work his magic on most people… except Alicia. For Alicia, Jack is everything she does not want in a man. She’s superimposed another man’s actions, one who broke her heart, onto Jack almost from their first meeting. She will not fall for his charm, looks or abilities, ever. The perfect setup for romance, win the lady over and we all live happily ever after… not so fast though. It’s going to take a bit of serious determination to work through Alicia’s stubbornness, and a weekend away in a beautiful setting all for business, of course, may be the answer Jack is searching for to win this lady’s heart.
It took me a little bit to warm up to Alicia, but once Jack starts to work his charming personality on her she slowly starts to change for me. Jack is just adorable, serious when needed for business and likable when he’s off the clock. I liked Jack, so I have to admit that I was definitely Team Jack on this one. Watching them work their way through misunderstandings, some prejudgment and opinions that weren’t truly accurate was a fun and engaging journey. If you’re stocking your summer reading shelf then One Summer Weekend would be perfect… actually, for any time of the year. It’s a fun, realistic, enjoyable romance, and one that I’d recommend to any Contemporary Romance reader.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
June 19, 2018
Oh I do love a pretty cover, just look at the hints of summer just jumping out to tease you. It certainly put me in a relaxed mood before I settled down to read. One Summer Weekend is only a short novella for info, so you only need set aside an afternoon or a sneaky couple of hours in the garden or by the pool.
To my knowledge this is the first time I have read anything by Juliet Archer not sure why, possibly because there are just SO many books on the market unless there is something very special about it like the cover or hype on social media it could easily get over looked which would be such a shame because I really enjoyed this little beauty.
As soon as we begin it becomes obvious sparks are going to fly between Alicia and Jack. But professionalism in the workplace is attempted. Until the work slips into a weekend away for a business trip. I have never been to the Lake District so I enjoyed being able to imagine I was being whisked off out into the country and with a drop dead gorgeous man like Jack I don’t think you could blame me.
Anyway, due to the length of the story you know a lot is going to unravel fairly quickly to enable the reader to understand past and present relationships. The thing I love about a sweet summery book like this is you know however many hurdles are put in the way inevitably there will be a pleasant enough ending. I would like to see a series of these books so we can expand on the original characters or add in a few more .. either way it gets a thumbs up from me.
My thanks to the author, publisher, netgalley and Rachel from Random Resources for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
To my knowledge this is the first time I have read anything by Juliet Archer not sure why, possibly because there are just SO many books on the market unless there is something very special about it like the cover or hype on social media it could easily get over looked which would be such a shame because I really enjoyed this little beauty.
As soon as we begin it becomes obvious sparks are going to fly between Alicia and Jack. But professionalism in the workplace is attempted. Until the work slips into a weekend away for a business trip. I have never been to the Lake District so I enjoyed being able to imagine I was being whisked off out into the country and with a drop dead gorgeous man like Jack I don’t think you could blame me.
Anyway, due to the length of the story you know a lot is going to unravel fairly quickly to enable the reader to understand past and present relationships. The thing I love about a sweet summery book like this is you know however many hurdles are put in the way inevitably there will be a pleasant enough ending. I would like to see a series of these books so we can expand on the original characters or add in a few more .. either way it gets a thumbs up from me.
My thanks to the author, publisher, netgalley and Rachel from Random Resources for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
August 9, 2018
Loved this. Was a feel good, laugh out loud read all the way through.
The tension between Alicia and Jack was so real. I felt as though it was happening to me... crazy huh! 😀
Alicia is an Executive Coach off to meet her new client Jack. After some pre-meeting research (also known as online stalking ...), Alicia has Jack labelled as 'babe magnet of the North West' (well it is what the tabloids say .... so must be true .... right ?)
After their initial meeting, Alicia is weary. Jack reminds her of somebody she dated and who broke her heart - after which she vowed to never let her guard down again.
Alicia is certain she can not help Jack but as she is talking the meeting over with her manager, he makes her see things in a slightly different light.
Alicia goes back to her desk to find an email from Jack informing her he will not be requiring her services.
Well .... let's just say Alicia was having none of that and calls Jack straight away. After some intial hostilities, they both agree that Jack could benefit from some coaching. However, Jack has slightly different ideas - which involve a weekend business trip to the Lake District for an outdoor activity weekend with clients Bill and Mitch..
I won't spoil the story but I think everyone should have a Bill, Mitch and Hermann in their life 😍.
Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
#laughter
#laughoutloud
#romance
#vwcamper
#lakedistrict
#coaching
#lostinmybook
#newbookrelease
#newbook
#ivejistreadthis
#kindlebook
#kindle
#goodreads
#googleplayreads
#kobo
#lovedthis
#summerread
The tension between Alicia and Jack was so real. I felt as though it was happening to me... crazy huh! 😀
Alicia is an Executive Coach off to meet her new client Jack. After some pre-meeting research (also known as online stalking ...), Alicia has Jack labelled as 'babe magnet of the North West' (well it is what the tabloids say .... so must be true .... right ?)
After their initial meeting, Alicia is weary. Jack reminds her of somebody she dated and who broke her heart - after which she vowed to never let her guard down again.
Alicia is certain she can not help Jack but as she is talking the meeting over with her manager, he makes her see things in a slightly different light.
Alicia goes back to her desk to find an email from Jack informing her he will not be requiring her services.
Well .... let's just say Alicia was having none of that and calls Jack straight away. After some intial hostilities, they both agree that Jack could benefit from some coaching. However, Jack has slightly different ideas - which involve a weekend business trip to the Lake District for an outdoor activity weekend with clients Bill and Mitch..
I won't spoil the story but I think everyone should have a Bill, Mitch and Hermann in their life 😍.
Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
#laughter
#laughoutloud
#romance
#vwcamper
#lakedistrict
#coaching
#lostinmybook
#newbookrelease
#newbook
#ivejistreadthis
#kindlebook
#kindle
#goodreads
#googleplayreads
#kobo
#lovedthis
#summerread
June 21, 2018
I found myself totally swept along with the characters in this fabulous story! I do love a slightly damaged cast, and this book has 2 such creatures! Alicia Marlowe is an executive coach so should be one of those people whose lives are perfect and ordered in every sense. In her work life that is true, but her personal life is very different and is a much happier soul when she's working than at weekends when she's left to her own devices.
And then there's Jack! Very well known in the tabloid press for his love of the ladies, he finds himself working for a company who has just expanded which means more work heading his way and his boss thinks his business approach could do with some coaching to make him work smarter... and that's how Alicia meets Jack!
I loved these characters! Both are very wary of one another when they first meet, for very different reasons and when Jack suggests they spend time together over a weekend to impress some old friends of him she is very reluctant. But seeing it as work she goes along, and that is when you wonder who is coaching who!
Jack and his past is never too far away and it is fascinating to see how Alicia deals with that when it is clear her feelings towards Jack are beginning to change. The more time she spends with him, then the more she sees her initial opinion is way off from how he really is!
I raced through this charming story and highly recommend it!!
June 25, 2018
After really enjoying The Importance of Being Emma and Persuade Me both of which I read way before I started blogging I jumped at the chance to read One Summer Weekend. In this story we get to meet Alicia who is an executive coach hired by Jack. It was great to see how in control Alicia was until of course she meets her new client. I really enjoyed their interactions especially with some sparks flying whenever they were together. I would say that it took me a little bit longer to like and get a feel for Alicia's character. This is pretty much all down to her past which definitely explains how she acts especially around Jack. However Juliet Archer manages to really bring her personality out as the story progresses and when you add Jack to the mix I couldn't help but hope for a happy ever after. Jack was the highlight for me mainly because he was playful and I loved how he gently teased Alicia.
I have to mention the setting and the gorgeous descriptions of their weekend in the Lake District. I have always wanted to visit and this story has made me want to go even more. The length of this book is pretty short so perfect for relaxing with especially with the lovely weather we are having.
If you are looking for a light hearted and warm story then look no further. One Summer Weekend has romance, fun and a very beautiful setting!
With thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my copy.
I have to mention the setting and the gorgeous descriptions of their weekend in the Lake District. I have always wanted to visit and this story has made me want to go even more. The length of this book is pretty short so perfect for relaxing with especially with the lovely weather we are having.
If you are looking for a light hearted and warm story then look no further. One Summer Weekend has romance, fun and a very beautiful setting!
With thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for my copy.
July 2, 2018
One Summer Weekend is a novella that reads like a full sized novel - in the best of ways. Nothing seems rushed, the characters are well developed and the plot is interesting.
Alicia and Jack start out with a business relationship - but the fact that they end up together for a weekend in the country and in front of his friends she has to pretend to be his girlfriend, quickly muddles the waters and it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the business from the personal relationship.
I had just two concerns with One Summer Weekend, and they are the reason I'm not rating it with five stars. First, given Alicia's negative past experience in mixing business and pleasure, I didn't quite understand how she could so quickly accept Jack's proposal of a weekend out with his friends - it seemed so inappropriate from the start, that it was difficult for me to accept that development in the story. I know she wanted to succeed in successfully coaching Jack, but it still seemed a stretch. And second, when you look back you notice that the story takes place in such a short period of time that it's hard to come to terms with how quickly Jack and Alicia progress from almost hating each other to talking about marriage and children.
Still, while One Summer Weekend may not be entirely realistic in terms of plot, it's still a very nice romance novella that will make you smile and root for a happy ending - and sometimes that's just what we need. Recommended.
Alicia and Jack start out with a business relationship - but the fact that they end up together for a weekend in the country and in front of his friends she has to pretend to be his girlfriend, quickly muddles the waters and it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the business from the personal relationship.
I had just two concerns with One Summer Weekend, and they are the reason I'm not rating it with five stars. First, given Alicia's negative past experience in mixing business and pleasure, I didn't quite understand how she could so quickly accept Jack's proposal of a weekend out with his friends - it seemed so inappropriate from the start, that it was difficult for me to accept that development in the story. I know she wanted to succeed in successfully coaching Jack, but it still seemed a stretch. And second, when you look back you notice that the story takes place in such a short period of time that it's hard to come to terms with how quickly Jack and Alicia progress from almost hating each other to talking about marriage and children.
Still, while One Summer Weekend may not be entirely realistic in terms of plot, it's still a very nice romance novella that will make you smile and root for a happy ending - and sometimes that's just what we need. Recommended.
June 21, 2018
Firstly I just have to mention the cover for One Summer Weekend. It’s one of the prettiest I have seen this year and the idyllic summer scene gives the novella a very inviting snapshot of what is to come.
I think its fair to say that when Alicia met her new client Jack Smith they got off to a frosty start. Jack’s reputation put Alicia on edge straight away, she would be working as Jack’s executive coach but that didn’t mean she had to like him. The fact that Jack was drop dead gorgeous with an engaging smile and slight Northern accent just made Alicia put the barriers up even more. I didn’t know if Alicia was being unfair to Jack because he reminded her of her ex-boyfriend or if his demeanor really did make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Of course, the iciness slowly melts when Alicia accompanies Jack on a business trip to the Lake District and for me this was when the book became interesting . The author describes the stunning scenery to perfection and the location was a real hit for me. The characters become more mellow as the book progresses and I began to like them both much more.
A well-written story perfect to read in the sunshine under a big tree with a picnic and a drop of Prosecco!
Thank you to Rachel, the author, and NetGalley for my copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly.
I think its fair to say that when Alicia met her new client Jack Smith they got off to a frosty start. Jack’s reputation put Alicia on edge straight away, she would be working as Jack’s executive coach but that didn’t mean she had to like him. The fact that Jack was drop dead gorgeous with an engaging smile and slight Northern accent just made Alicia put the barriers up even more. I didn’t know if Alicia was being unfair to Jack because he reminded her of her ex-boyfriend or if his demeanor really did make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Of course, the iciness slowly melts when Alicia accompanies Jack on a business trip to the Lake District and for me this was when the book became interesting . The author describes the stunning scenery to perfection and the location was a real hit for me. The characters become more mellow as the book progresses and I began to like them both much more.
A well-written story perfect to read in the sunshine under a big tree with a picnic and a drop of Prosecco!
Thank you to Rachel, the author, and NetGalley for my copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly.
June 23, 2018
I don’t know what it was about Jack Smith. From the off, when executive coach Alicia Marlow arrived in his office for their first meeting, instead of being irritated by his Jack the Lad attitude, he made me smile. On the face of it, he’s a lost cause: chauvinistic, smug, even patronising. He immediately clashes with Alicia, whose assessment notes don’t hold out much hope for him as a potential coachee. Despite deciding to walk away, Alicia finds herself forced to take him on as a client.
Three years ago Alicia had a bad experience. Since then she has built a wall around herself. Jack so much resembles Troy, the man who broke her heart. This, together with his womanising reputation, colours her view of him and makes for continual confrontation. When she asks him to set up a meeting with one of his clients so she can see how he interacts with them he invites her for a weekend in the Lake District. Meeting Bill and his wife Midges leads to some surprising outcomes.
I really loved this story. Alicia and Jack’s characters are so beautifully written. They clash continually, the sparks fly; the dialogue is sharp and at times funny. I guess the old adage ‘You Can’t Tell a Book by Looking at its Cover’ applies to both of them. There is so much they get wrong about each other, but it’s an entertaining route we’re taken on as they gradually discover the truth about each other.
Three years ago Alicia had a bad experience. Since then she has built a wall around herself. Jack so much resembles Troy, the man who broke her heart. This, together with his womanising reputation, colours her view of him and makes for continual confrontation. When she asks him to set up a meeting with one of his clients so she can see how he interacts with them he invites her for a weekend in the Lake District. Meeting Bill and his wife Midges leads to some surprising outcomes.
I really loved this story. Alicia and Jack’s characters are so beautifully written. They clash continually, the sparks fly; the dialogue is sharp and at times funny. I guess the old adage ‘You Can’t Tell a Book by Looking at its Cover’ applies to both of them. There is so much they get wrong about each other, but it’s an entertaining route we’re taken on as they gradually discover the truth about each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2018
We meet Alicia Marlowe as she meets a new potential client for ‘Coaches for Growth,’ and she is not impressed by what she sees. I was straight in, straight away as we also met Jack Smith, whose reputation as single handedly turning around a company that was in severe difficulty preceded him. I knew I liked Jack straight off the bat, and enjoyed how they interacted with each other, even though Alicia did at times come across as being slightly over dramatic, jumping to every cliche conclusion about him not being serious, and being a womanizer. I enjoyed their time in the office, but it was after the twenty percent mark, where Jack took Alicia to the beautiful Lake District, that things really kicked off for me as they pretended to be a couple for the lovely Bill and Midge. I enjoyed the scenery and settings, although for once I wished I could have gotten even more of a feel for both, given the beauty of this cover (isn’t it gorgeous?)and the location.
The romance in this book is impeccible, turning a couple who I wasn’t sure of the chemistry of, into a partnership that I willed to work. With both struggling from past hurts, we got some drama that I really enjoyed. I flew through this book in one lovely Summer’s afternoon and it was perfect for this. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources for the book in return for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
The romance in this book is impeccible, turning a couple who I wasn’t sure of the chemistry of, into a partnership that I willed to work. With both struggling from past hurts, we got some drama that I really enjoyed. I flew through this book in one lovely Summer’s afternoon and it was perfect for this. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources for the book in return for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
June 3, 2018
Habituée des chick lit, c'est avec plaisir que j'ai commencé ce livre de Juliet Archer. L'auteur a su rendre ses personnages attachants dès les premières lignes, j'ai apprécié que l'histoire se déroule notamment dans le Lake District et j'étais curieuse de voir où tout cela allait mener (même si le dénouement était prévisible dès le départ)... Le hic dans ce livre est le passage avec Troy. Dès son apparition, les personnages principaux ont un changement de personnalité, particulièrement Jack. Alors qu'il était charmant et sympathique jusqu'à ce moment, sa réaction lors de *l'incident* (trop farfelus) fut complètement immature et beaucoup trop forte pour la cause. Le dénouement arrivant très (trop) rapidement par la suite, je n'ai pas pu lui retrouver ce charme qui m'avait conquis au début du livre. L'héroïne est facile à oublier, elle manque de profondeur. Alors que j'étais complètement emballée par ce livre, c'est sur une note semi-amère que je le termine.
#OneSummerWeekend #NetGalley #IndigoEmployee
#OneSummerWeekend #NetGalley #IndigoEmployee
August 2, 2018
I sat down to read this when I just felt like escaping into a book and I wasn't disappointed. It is a fairly short read but within that, I found the characters to be well developed with their own back stories to tell. Initial first impressions come under the microscope as Alicia starts her job of 'deep diving' into Jack's personality and it is pretty clear from the start that her first impression is probably going to be tested.
I loved the setting in the Lake District- it was just right for a summer read and even the cover kept it light and bright. The novella is written from Alicia's point of view but you realise that there are some skeletons in Alicia's past which are influencing her feelings toward Jack. I found Jack a more sympathetic character than Alicia even though we only really see him through her eyes. As an escapist romantic read, the story flowed well and kept me engaged to the end.
In short: A brief novella full of sunshine and romance.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
I loved the setting in the Lake District- it was just right for a summer read and even the cover kept it light and bright. The novella is written from Alicia's point of view but you realise that there are some skeletons in Alicia's past which are influencing her feelings toward Jack. I found Jack a more sympathetic character than Alicia even though we only really see him through her eyes. As an escapist romantic read, the story flowed well and kept me engaged to the end.
In short: A brief novella full of sunshine and romance.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
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