Бал на чувствата

Smart Girls #2

by Rhoda Baxter, Рода Бакстър, Лука Зяпков (Translator)

Най-доброто парти, правено някога…

Стиви губи родителите си, когато е на тринадесет години, но винаги е можела да разчита на брат си Марш. Сега той вече е женен и тя чувства, че сякаш губи и него. Решена да докаже своята независимост, Стиви започва да преобразява живота си, зарязвайки скучната професия и следвайки страстта си да се занимава с организиране на събития.

Първия проект я отвежда във великолепно имение в Оксфърд. Целта ѝ е да организира благотворителен бал, използвайки минимален бюджет. Избор на ордьоври, изпращане на покани до знаменитости и опити да задоволи претенциите на взискателната лейди Берил – това са само част от задачите на Стиви. На всичкото отгоре се появява Том, младежката ѝ любо, обърквайки още повече нещата.

Но „бедната отчаяна малка Стиви“ вече е „Стиви, силната жена“. Тя няма да позволи на някакъв си мъж да застане на пътя на мечтите ѝ… нали?

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

284 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2013

About the author

Hi. I’m Rhoda. I write smart contemporary romantic comedy. In real life, I’m a former scientist who now works in intellectual property. The rest of the time I’m a sensible grown up Mum.

I prefer my heroes to be nice guys with a sense of humour and me heroines to be smart and independent. If you like Mhairi McFarlane or Sophie Kinsella, you'll probably like my books tool

I also write women's fiction, often featuring Sri Lankan characters, under the name Jeevani Charika.

A few of my novels have been shortlisted for prestigious awards. If you want to 'try before you buy', you can get a free novella by signing up to my newsletter via my website: www.rhodabaxter.com

Reviews

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this via Choc Lit and NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.

Feel like I've been on a little bit of a journey with Stevie who this book is centred around! And I have to admit to initially not being on Stevie's side as she did come across as a little needy and flaky! But the more I read, the more I began to see how much she had been through and how much she had relied on her brother, Marshall, so when he married and she started spending less time with him it was a big change for her.

She has never found her perfect job and had planned on taking a year out, despite Marshall objecting to the idea, so she could wait for her ideal job as an events planner to hopefully appear. The jobs she does end up taking don't end up lasting for long and she begins to give up hope a little and i started to feel empathy for her.

She lost her parents when she was 13 so her big brother became her guardian, and now he's moved on after marrying Jane, Stevie just misses the constant guidance and support he provided. She had moved in with him and his University mates at the time of their parents death and that didn't run too smoothly with his other housemates, especially when Stevie had a crush on Tom.

Tom is now a very different person as he pushes himself too hard to keep up with his high achieving family. His mother is going through the process of converting their gorgeous home into a B&B, and she is is also looking to host a charity ball, but with minimum funds - if only a young events manager was looking for a way to get her big break and find a way to start showing her brother she is capable of growing up and holding her own in the party planning world!!

Really enjoyed the transformation of Stevie throughout this book, from lost young girl, to confident, sexy young woman! Tom also has to face up to the realities of trying to push himself too hard and it is only when he takes a step back from his work that he becomes aware of the changes that need to be made in his life. The dynamics of all the characters work so well together and I think they all learn something from each other which is fascinating to see how it allows them all to become the people they always hoped to be!

Lots of fun moments made this a treat to read and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!!

The character of Stevie does feature in an earlier book by the author, Girl On The Run, which is the story of how her brother Marshall ends up meeting his wife Jane, so that is next on my list to read!!

[Nina Draganova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Симпатична, романтична , е да , наивна, но някак се чете лесно и бързо , и това е причината да й дам по-висока оценка.
Много странно, има герои които ми стават интересни, и независимо че книгата е много лековата, не ме дразни. Не е пълна с плява, както повечето от жанра.
Сигурно всичко зависи и от моментното настроение.
Щом молекулярен биолог , каквато се оказа авторката , може да пише такива разтоварващи книги , ние обикновените хора , защо пък да не ги четем.

[Hristina Tserovska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Увлекателно написана книжка за една симпатична щурачка, която се чувства доста самотна след като брат й се жени и сякаш отдалечава от нея. Всички я смятат за незряла, защото сменя няколко местоработи за месец, докато не получава възможността да се докаже като организира благотворителен бал. Намесва се и любовта, но не очаквайте романтика. Авторката за жалост не набляга на любовната връзка,но историята е приятна и се чете бързо.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fluent written book that kept me reading and reading and reading. A story about love (of course) between family and friends and new relationships. I liked all the main characters because even the not so nice ones had good sides. A very important message : live your life the way you want to and not to impress others or what you think they expect from you. It will make you feel a lot better and you might find that they will accept you, right the way you are, if they really love you. Keep in mind that, what you once thought was your dream, might take a 306° turn when you meet the right person.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Smart Girl series , and having read the first book and loving it I just had to read the next!

In this book we have Stevie and her brother Marsh , they have always been close especially after losing their parents when Stevie was very young, she could always rely on him . Now Marsh is happily married which makes Stevie feel like she is losing him . She sets out to transform her life and be independent...during this she sees her high school crush but surely she won't let him take her off course!

This is another fantastic light hearted fun book to read. The characters are very realistic in moments and I think a lot of readers will be able to identify with different parts of the book. I love the character of Stevie , she is interesting to read about and get to know throughout the book . Very well written and a really enjoyable read!

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stevie always had her older brother Marsh right by her side, but him being married means he doesn't have as much time for her as he used to. Marsh is eight years older and when they lost their parents nine years ago he was old enough to become his sister's guardian. He's entered a new phase in his life and it's time for Stevie to grow up, to stand on her own two feet and to make something of herself without counting on Marsh all the time. The first step is to become independent and start an event business. Stevie can't think of anything she'd love to do more.

Stevie's first job is to organize a charity event at a manor in Oxford. The house is beautiful and the owner, Evelyn, thinks Stevie is the perfect candidate, she's young and ambitious and she knows how to get things done. The only downside is that Stevie has to do it on an almost nonexistent budget. Stevie has to be creative and she has to make sure she makes a success of the event. Even though she might not get paid much, there will be plenty of networking opportunities to make it worthwhile. Another benefit is that Evelyn's son Tom is the guy Stevie used to have a crush on when she was a teenager, it's going to be great to see him again, or isn't it? Will Stevie be able to get through her first job unscathed?

Girl Having a Ball is a fun story about a strong and resilient girl. Stevie is twenty-two years old and has already been through a lot. She decides it's time to grow up and make something of herself. She's sweet, brave, bold and creative and I loved reading about her ideas. Everything she does is an adventure and that's one of the things I enjoyed most about this book. Stevie is looking for love, she's young, but she knows the meaning of it very well. Tom likes his freedom and isn't in the market for a relationship. I liked their chemistry and was intrigued by their connection from the start. They have interesting conversations and I loved the chats Tom has with his best fried about Stevie, they give the story a lovely extra spark.

Rhoda Baxter writes about smart and competent women, which is something I admire about her work. Stevie can stand up for herself and she's capable of making it on her own. She only has her brother, which can be a bit lonely and Rhoda Baxter describes the feelings she has in a believable and empathic way. She makes the main characters of Girl Having a Ball come to life really well by giving them vigorous personalities, which provides extra depth and makes them a joy to read about. The story is lively and charming. I read this book with a big smile on my face and think it's wonderful.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep reading…don’t stop! Why do I say this? Well, I nearly put the book down thinking that Stephanie “Stevie” was a silly spoiled brat in the first few pages and didn’t want to read her story BUT, after checking a few reviews online that had been posted already, I persevered and am not sorry I did.

Stevie lost her parents when she was 13 and depended on her older brother Marsh from then on. After his marriage to Ashby he is still there for her but she is jealous – at 22 – and behaves badly as a result of having her feathers ruffled. (Ashby and Stevie’s brother Marsh have their stories told by Rhoda in “Girl on the Run”).

Unhappy with her brother, her job and probably with herself she quits her job and applies to be event manager for a charity ball, gets the job and then her life and she begin to change. She meets the charity organizers, re-meets a housemate of her brother (Tom) and begins to come into her own. While working on the event she and Tom begin to talk and sometimes those talks hit on issues in their lives that need to be talked about. Tom is handsome and at the top of his profession but has stress that leads to headaches that are almost debilitating. Both Stevie and Tom are working toward their own professional goals and may not have time for a long term game plan together…unless something changes.

This book made me smile, and feel, and wish, and hope and then smile again when I read the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and ChocLit for the copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ceri · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a ride. I really enjoyed being able to read and review this series. I liked being able to follow all the characters along to see where they all went.

Girl having a ball follows Stevie, who is Marshalls brother who we meet in the first book 😉, as she embarks on a new career choice. While planning a charity ball she bumps into someone used to go to college with her brother.

I really enjoyed this one, it was different and really realistic!

All the books I guess could be read alone as they do slightly explain who everyone is in the books but obviously if you like me read them all in order and in the series you will understand how everyone connects better.

I liked each book for all different reasons. I think my favourite out of them is Girl Having a Ball closely followed by Girl at Christmas.

[Liya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a slow read
But the love story is sweet even tho is predictable ☺️

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl Having a Ball,  Rhoda Baxter

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Women’s fiction

 Life’s been a bit hard lately and sometimes I find I just want something light and easy to read, but with a story that feels real, not a fluff piece that leaves me unsatisfied – and there’s a whole lot of those out ;-) I've found when I’m in this mood Choc Lit novels tend to deliver and this one once more fitted my mood perfectly and took me out of myself for a while.

I hadn’t realised there were earlier book/s featuring these characters, and hadn’t read them but Marsh and Jane, that sounds a fun read.
Still, we’re with Stevie and Tom now, Stevie being Marsh’s little sister and Tom an ex housemate of his.

Marsh brought up Stevie after their parents died when she was 13 and he around 21-22. She lived in the student house for a while and had a crush on Tom, and it didn’t go well, she did something that caused friction between Tom and Marsh, but that’s all in the past she thinks.
She adores Marsh, has been finding it difficult letting go when he married and now he and Jane are going to become parents she feels she’s losing her family, the old nightmares about her parents are back and to add to that she’s currently out of a job...

She picks up one sort of in her field but its not without problems, low pay, difficult person to work with in Lady Beryl, but she’s offset by the lovely Evelyn and her niece Alice, and another lady, the wonderful Priya, the main connection to the charity the ‘ball is supporting.
All looks good but there’s a huge boulder in the way and its...Tom, who’s Evelyn's son. He still thinks of Stevie as a kid so he;s a bit shocked when he meets her and there is some fabulous humour thrown in, such as when he’s recounting the meeting to his friend Og (Olivia). He has to admit all his plans of being tough, of negotiating  the best deal ( or preferably not letting her get the job) go out the window when he sees her, is stunned at how she’s grown, is fiercely attracted, and just as she asks him a question he chokes on a biscuit. By the time he’s recovered the deal is done, Stevie gets her way and he’s lost the chance.

From then on its a race to make the Ball go well, offset by the usual issues, lack of time money and a celeb to bring in ticket sales. The house, Evelyn's, is wonderful and I loved the descriptions of it and the gardens, sounds a lovely old home.
The characters and situations are so real, we’ve all met ones like them, and organising things when there are several people involved leads to friction all too often. I was involved in an art exhibition with ladies from a local art group a few years back. Got to the venue, no one wanted to go first, but we finally started putting works up ready for display, and then one lady came in late, started complaining about how things had been done, grumbled very vociferously, which set others off and it really was a Handbags at Dawn scenario! Never again....
The humour is threaded throughout along with some very real issues, Stevie’s feeling of abandonment, Tom’s work pressures and stress. Evelyn’s missing her lovely husband since he died, Lady Beryl wanting to be in control but not do any work, thankfully Priya is one of those gems who get things done quietly, Alice, typical teen with teen issues, and Marsh, devoted brother who now needs to see his sister as grown, not as the kid he needed to guide so carefully. Vienna, (or Salzburg or wherever! ) was good, a real B itch but I’d like her claws to have been even sharper, she was perfect for that role.

 I have to mention this part which made me snigger. the posh Lady Beryl has heard one of the people at the ball has donated a large sum in order to have a ward at the Sri Lankan hospital named after his wife, so she’s persuaded her husband to do the same. Priya says how sweet that is, to immortalise a loved one in that way, named after a ward. Depends on the ward though Tom says – it’s not so good if its the Dysentery Clinic!!

 I  loved it – its a magical story,fun and gentle humour, perfect ending and one I really enjoyed reading.
Would it get a second read? Yes, if I’m in the right mood, its a “full” read with lost to see and I’m sure I missed some of the more subtle clues.

Stars: five. a great fun read with a perfect HEA.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher 

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is so much fun. It has everything you want from a romantic comedy and more! I loved it.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

I have to admit that in the early parts of Girl Having A Ball I truly wanted to sit Stevie down and have a very stern conversation with her about being possessive, letting her brother have his own happiness and simply growing up to find her own place in life. It turns out that she manages to do all of that and more on her own.

It was very realistic to watch Stevie change over the course of this story, to see her come into her own and become a much more likable, understanding young woman by the ending. Part of that was stepping out on her own and seeing that she could stand on her own two feet very well. The other part was discovering that loving someone changes everything, the way you feel, the way you think, even logic seems to function differently when seen through the eyes of a personally strong emotion. Reconnecting with Tom as an adult, a still growing adult opened Stevie’s eyes to a whole different part of life. Call it a wake up call to a better understanding of her brother and his wife. Or simply call it falling in love for herself.

Now all this self-discovery doesn’t mean that everything is smooth sailing from now on.. no way. She still has to prove herself as an event planner, create a fabulous charity ball out of basically nothing – and win the man of her dreams. Not so easy, but Stevie is capable of so much now. There’s no stopping this girl from getting all of her dreams.

Tom’s email chats with his friend were delightful. They gave us an insight into the emotions, fears, confusion and excitement of a man who isn’t sure he’s ready for commitment. They were almost like crawling into Tom’s head, his innermost thoughts at times. A nice touch indeed.

Honestly, I started Girl Having A Ball not certain about this heroine and hero at all. By the ending, I had been treated to a unique look into the process of lives changing before my reading eyes. Stevie and Tom did some major growing up during their story. The resulting romance was perhaps all the more sweet and precious because of their discoveries along the way.

I would recommend this story to any Romance reader. Give Stevie a chance to show her true colors to you, I’m certain you’ll enjoy going along for the ride with her as she grows and has a few life lessons along the way.

*I received an e-ARC of Girl Having A Ball from the publisher, Choc Lit and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original review is posted here:

http://thischickreads.wordpress.com/2...

Twenty-two-years old Stevie has to grow up. She is mature enough now to live on her own and get the job of her dreams. She has always relied on her brother, her only family since their parents died. But now he is married and has a family of his own, so Stevie can’t call him in the middle of the night when she has a nightmare.

Starting the job of her dreams, Stevie has to organize a charity ball. With no money for the organization, she has to use all her skills to do this as good as she can. The lady that organizes the ball is very nice. But, there is a catch. Her son is Tom, a friend of Stevie’s brother from college. The very same guy that she embarrassed in front of when she was thirteen. She got drunk in his room and tried to seduce him.

Now, Stevie has grown up. She is responsible person and very good at her job. She makes good choices. But, Tom is so cute, would she be able to resist him?

At first I didn’t like Stevie much. It is childish (at least for me) to get mad just because you are not your brother’s number one anymore. He has a family on his own now, a family that depends on him and comes first. But, after a while I could actually see Stevie change and grow up as a character. She respects herself and knows how to gain respect from others. She shows that she is not someone’s one-night-stand and knows she deserves more. So, page after page, Stevie did grow on me. She is responsible and a totally cool person with so many creative ideas. She also can handle any situation, and I was impressed with this part of her character.

As for Tom… well he seems to be more reserved. He keeps his feelings all to himself. You can’t see that behind that arrogant look is a man who wants a house, a wife and children. Maybe, Stevie can change that.

So, overall, really enjoyed this book. I had no idea that organizing a ball can be so fun. And Stevie and Tom are such a cute couple. So, if you are looking for a light and fun read (lots of e-mail correspondence and ice cream included), then this is a book for you.

My rating: 3.5/5

[ѕнelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's me...Maybe it's the mood I'm in currently. What I wanted was a light-hearted read. A little romance to keep the cold day away. I mean seriously I'm a HUGE romance fan! Pom Poms and everything

Girl Having a Ball looked like the right read! It has a lovely quirky cover, a sappy romance where you are cheering for the lead characters to get it on. The whole love conquers all shebang! I should be over the moon ecstatic ~ RIGHT?

When all I'm left with is a feeling of blah! So let me explain why....Stevie lost her parents when she was very young, her brother Marsh had to step up and he did an exceedingly good job. Now he's married and Stevie has to stand on her own two feet to prove that she has grown up and can manage without her steadfast brother. A Charity Ball and a returning childhood crush make for an interesting read.

Yep. That's what I thought and yet here I am in all my blah-ness?! Confused and bewildered as to how I'm feeling blah about this book.

Spoiler Alert! It has to be Tom {the childhood crush}! He's sweet and totally clueless. His determination to remain single is well just basically silly. Maybe it's the hang-ups about the age difference though neither really decision the supposed issue.

I can't quite put my finger on it... Girl Having a Ball was just missing something. The magical sparkle that turns it from an average read to a book you want to reread over time.

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Sorcha O'Dowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to bed one night and started reading Girl Having a Ball, thinking I’d enjoy a couple of chapters before having an early night. Four hours later, it was approaching 1am and I had just finished it. I was so engrossed in the story, the fun characters, the will-they-won’t-they between Stevie and Tom that the hours flew by as I laughed, sniffled and cheered Stevie on in her quest to organise the charity ball that could start her career.

Stevie was a great character, and it was great to see more of Marsh’s sister from Girl on the Run, as well as the great cameo’s from Marsh and Jane after their happily-ever-after. Stevie’s desperation to make her way in the world, now that she needed to look after herself, will greatly echoe the struggles of some of the young women reading this book. Wanting to be seen and treated as an adult, yet still dreaming of her perfect future, which she knows won’t be so easy to get, it was wonderful to see her grow as an adult throughout Girl Having a Ball and how getting out from under Marsh’s wing, whilst emotionally tough for her, also gaver her a new freedom.

I loved Tom for his well-hidden vulnerability, and how he felt he had let down his family, despite his Mother’s love for him. Seeing him become closer to his family, and understand that they were proud of his achievements was heartwarming, and for him to understand that a high-paid, high-stressed job doesn’t necessarily mean a happy future.

With a great cast of secondary characters with whom Stevie helps to plan and set up the ball, you’ll laugh at the small-town style politics of the charity group, (I’m talking about you Lady Beryl) you will laugh, cry and feel at one with the ladies and Tom as they make the charity ball one to remember.

5 Stars!

*Review copy kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Trish Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-two-year-old Stevie Winfield quits her dead-end job in a moment of irrationality, finding herself unemployed and wondering how she is going to pay the bills. On top of that, it upsets her that her brother, who has been her guardian since their parents died, didn't tell her that his wife Jane was expecting a baby.
She seeks employment with an event planner for whom she worked one summer, who suggests she contact Dr. Evelyn Blackwood, a retired academic who lives too far out of the way in Oxford. She's planning a ball to benefit the building of a children's hospital in Sri Lanka.
Despite her lack of experience, Stevie is determined to use all her resources to get hired for the job and make the event a success. She first has to deal with the objections of Lady Beryl, which proves tough, and she settles on a paltry sum in payment, plus a share of any of profit. Funds for the event are low so Stevie decides they should do the catering themselves. Since a Sri Lankan charity will benefit from the party, Stevie co-opts one of Evelyn’s friends, Priya, who agrees to cook Sri Lankan food.
When ticket sales are slow, she uses her sister-in-law's contact to a local band to invite one of the band members to the ball. Dr. Blackwood's teenage niece, Alice, who is currently living in the mansion, is thrilled and contacts her friends.
Evelyn Blackwood has a hunky son named Tom, to whom Stevie is instantly attracted. However, he has made it clear he doesn't do relationships, and he seems to be tied up with the very svelte Vienna. Nonetheless, Stevie cannot resist a kiss in the rose garden…

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl Having A Ball is a highly enjoyable story, that is a lot of fun. The romantic element was slightly predictable, but its the journey that is always the most entertaining, and it certainly had me smiling as the story progressed.

Stevie initially comes across as a bit flighty and I initially had large concerns over whether she would be able to organise the charity ball, as the kickstarter for her new career. In fact I was foreseeing disasters that didn't even occur, although that's not to say anything at all ran smoothly.

I left the book feeling very impressed with Stevie, she experiences a great deal of personal growth over the month or so the story progresses for, as she learns to deal with all manner of challenges.

Stevie had a crush on Tom, when she was only 13 and now he is a high powered workaholic businessman, but that may have on re-meeting Stevie, twigged she is now quite a bit over 18, and a woman! The main insights we have into Tom are from his communications with his best friend Og mainly over email, which shows how confused he is about his work currently, as well as his feeling for various females.

My overall feeling of Girl Having A Ball was that is was a lot of fun. There are smiles and giggles to be had, as well as information about a great charity that the ball is for. I loved some of the solutions to the problems, and really liked the big manor house setting in Oxford. It was a lovely story to read, and as my second book by this author, I will definitely be curious to see future releases.

Thank you to Choc Lit and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.

[Maryline M's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love love love this cover. I know, "don't judge a book by it's cover", but it's what made me notice the book and I'm so happy I did. It's a classic romantic comedy, but not too cheesy and yet still highly lovable.
Stevie is striving to be a professional party planner. To me that first sounded as the cliché girly profession, but Stevie soon proves how many skills are needed to actually complete the job. Against all odds, Stevie proves to be a very professional, responsible party planner. She's not entirely comfortable working in close proximity to Tom, the boss's son, and she's giving a very limited budget to work with. But she manages to overcome all of that. She takes risks and is original and manages to give everyone exactly what they wanted.
I was impressed, because at first, I have to say, I really had my doubts about her as a main character. I thought she was immature and childish and found her reaction to her brother's news a bit ridiculous. I'm very happy she ended up proving me - and everyone else in her life, for that matter- wrong.
The plot wasn't all that surprising, but I didn't mind - it really didn't matter: it was a very enjoyable read and I would very much recommend this!
... Can't wait to start planning a party now!

This review is part of a BOOK TOUR stop; check out M's Bookshelf for more! http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.be

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stevie and Marsh have always had each other, since their parents passed away and Marsh became her guardian. Now Marsh is married and keeping secrets from her. Stevie has quit her job and taken on a job organizing a charity ball. While planning this ball she runs into Tom, the son of Stevie’s boss. Her future depends on making this ball a success and the fact that she did it without running to Marsh to help her out.

Stevie is a great character. Although she acts a tad childish when learns that her brother and his wife are keeping a secret from her, by the end of the book you can see how she has grown into a young woman and become successful all on her own. She even holds her own in her “relationship” with Tom, the older man with his own successful career. The decision to quit her job was a tad rash, but oh the fun she had planning the ball. She met some amazing friends, including the teenage granddaughter of her boss who keeps her on her toes at the ball but is a ton of help in the planning and setting up.

I felt this book was fun and easy. Rhoda Baxter wrote a book with romance, family, and great friendships. Any chic-lit reader will enjoy this book as much as I did.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Girl Having a Ball by Rhoda Baxter to be a coming of age type of story. It is a romance but I think it is a character study too. Stevie defines herself as the little sister of big brother and guardian of her after their parents died. The focus of this story is now on her as an adult but not one who is able to stand on her own. I enjoyed seeing her go from a bratty person to a well wounded mature and fun to be with adult. Seeing her spread her wings as she strived to make her dream career was simply fun to read. I wasn’t sure if she could pull it off but she does. If only, we could believe in the success of our dreams too.

While Stevie is inventing her career and in many ways herself as a competent adult, Tom is seeing the need to re-invent his life. Both needed to do some deep soul searching and without that the book would not have worked. Neither would the romance have either. The author made the progression of events correctly for both to be successful in life and in love.

Funny - serious look at taking life by the horns, while standing on your own and answering to yourself. I loved the play on words with the title, too.

Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.

[Jim Cangany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things aren't easy for Stevie Winfield. Just out of college, the twenty-two year old is struggling getting her career as an event planner going at the same time she finds herself drifting apart from her brother. When a charity finds itself in need of a substitute event planner just weeks before it's fundraising ball, Stevie jumps at the chance to prove to herself and others she's got what it takes to make it on her own, both professionally and personally. What Stevie didn't count on was meeting Tom Blackwood, the son of Evelyn Blackwood, the ball's host. Despite Stevie's need to focus on the event and Tom's efforts at landing a job overseas, the two can't help being attracted to each other. Is Tom too old for Stevie? Is Stevie too needy for Tom? Is it possible to fall hopelessly in love in just a few weeks? With a unique story-telling method, Rhoda Baxter answers all of these questions and a few more in this delightful, contemporary romance. Give this story a try. You won't be disappointed. And one last thing-when the going gets tough, the tough get ice cream.

[Ashlinn Craven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stevie's 22 and at a crucial stage in her personal and career development, and then - boom - along comes Tom, sexy and troubled and eight years older, who shakes up some old memories and annoys her big brother. It's kind of a YA novel where the heroine is concerned as it deals with issues that people that age have to deal with in real life. The romance though, is mature and realistic. I LOVED the resolution and how it happened (cringefully funny). Baxter's writing is subtle and humourous. She never hits you over the head, and reading all the subtext is the most enjoyable part. As with Patently in Love, I wish it were longer and all the email headings could be deleted (besides, does no-one use instant messaging?) but that's a small issue and maybe just me. This is a fun romance that you could give to your daughter or your gran alike.

[Jenny O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely gentle read but with more depth than I was expecting. The characters are so true to life, as are the situations. Which one of us hasn't felt peeved at being the last to know? Which one wanting to spread our wings despite being thought too young, too inexperienced? Which one - all of us!

This is Stevie, still thought a child by many; a child with the body of a woman as Tom discovers to his cost. This book holds charm within its folds. Is it because of the delightful house set in Oxford complete with gazebo fairy lights? Is it batty work averse Lady Beryl or perhaps it's the chemistry between the two main characters - who can tell, but the cupboard under the stairs scene will be remembered for quite a while!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be going back to read the first in the series. I loved the fact that we went on a journey with Stevie, starting out with her as a fairly unlikeable and spoiled brat and ending up with her being a confident adult, good at what she does and sure of want she wants. She was such a vivid and believable character that I hope it’s not the last we see of her. The other characters were well rounded and enjoyable, I particularly loved reading about Evelyn and her granddaughter Alice and would have been perfectly happy to hear more from them. Overall, this is a fun and engaging story from an obviously accomplished author and I hope that there will be many more in the series.

[Ann Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to receive this ARC and I certainly wasn't disappointed! Stevie is introduced as a lost soul. Her brother (on whom she has always relied) is married and now off limits for her emotional support.

She wants to get into events and takes on a gamble. A huge ball in Oxfordshire. Nothing like starting small!!

As the book progresses we see weak Stevie slowly morph into strong Stevie and it is a fascinating study!
Tom is the love interest and the feelings grow as the independence does, making for a delicious conflict in Stevie.

This is a lovely, fun read - everything I would expect from Rhoda and Choc Lit!

[Jackie Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and Choc Lit for giving me the opportunity to read this which I voluntarily reviewed.
This is completely different from my normal diet of murder and mayhem but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I read it in 2 sittings as I was so involved in Stevie's life.
When I first started to read this I thought Stevie was a bit of a wimp. However, the more I read, I soon realised she'd had a lot to put up with while growing up.
I have read other books from Choc Lit and this maintains their high standard.
I didn't realise there were more books in this series! I'll definitely be reading them.

[Kiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, gentle, romantic storytelling

Reading a Rhoda Baxter romance is the book equivalent of fleecy pajamas, a tub of ice cream and a chick flick on the box. I feel like part of her character's lives, I laugh and cry and shout at the Kindle and when I read the last page I feel better about the world.

This is a romance with heart. Stevie and Tom are both lovely (if occasionally in need of a thick ear apiece), and the background characters are wonderfully varied and skilfully done.

Buy it. Read it. Have feelz.

[Emma]

After reading and reviewing Patently in Love for my blog I knew I had to read Having a Ball as well. I enjoyed it a lot, I flew through it on the long train journey to and from London yesterday and just wished it was longer because I had a lot of my journey home left once I'd finished it. I hope Rhoda will write more in this universe because I have particularly enjoyed both books and it was nice to read more about Stevie in this one.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice romance - Stevie and Tom are a couple who are meant to be and it's nice to see a teenage crush grown up! I had not read the first book but that was fine except that I would probably have liked that one too and now I'm going to look forward to another. Baxter has a nice breezy writing style. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Susan Duthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this feel good romance. Brilliant storyline with all the right mix of characters. A good holiday read. Happy ending, just wish it was longer.