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Reclaiming Love
Sarah Campbell told one tiny white lie.
The tech giant she works for moves her to a small Scottish island for six months to work on a classified project. She can’t tell anyone why she’s leaving, and lying to placate her overprotective mother is the only choice. Sarah’s fallen in love, she’s moving in with her girlfriend, she couldn’t be happier… She can pretend her dream woman exists for six months, right?
Sarah’s a tech genius and she’s better at firewalls than real walls. She arrives at the run-down cottage assigned by her employer and quickly discovers she needs help. Pippa Kent is a semi-retired structural engineer who’s done with love. She fills all her free time running a handywoman service on the island. When Sarah calls Pippa out for the most basic repairs, Pippa can’t help but wonder—often out loud—how anyone can be so inept at home maintenance.
Then Sarah’s mother suddenly decides to visit and meet her daughter’s wonderful new partner. With little option, Sarah begs Pippa to be her fake girlfriend. Only the more time they spend faking it, the less pretend it feels.
The tech giant she works for moves her to a small Scottish island for six months to work on a classified project. She can’t tell anyone why she’s leaving, and lying to placate her overprotective mother is the only choice. Sarah’s fallen in love, she’s moving in with her girlfriend, she couldn’t be happier… She can pretend her dream woman exists for six months, right?
Sarah’s a tech genius and she’s better at firewalls than real walls. She arrives at the run-down cottage assigned by her employer and quickly discovers she needs help. Pippa Kent is a semi-retired structural engineer who’s done with love. She fills all her free time running a handywoman service on the island. When Sarah calls Pippa out for the most basic repairs, Pippa can’t help but wonder—often out loud—how anyone can be so inept at home maintenance.
Then Sarah’s mother suddenly decides to visit and meet her daughter’s wonderful new partner. With little option, Sarah begs Pippa to be her fake girlfriend. Only the more time they spend faking it, the less pretend it feels.
242 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2022
15 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Radley
31 books155 followersSee main profile as A.E. Radley
Amanda Radley had no desire to be a writer but accidentally turned into an award-winning, best-selling author. Residing in the UK with her wife and pets, she loves to travel. She gave up her marketing career in order to make stuff up for a living instead. She claims the similarities are startling.
Amanda Radley had no desire to be a writer but accidentally turned into an award-winning, best-selling author. Residing in the UK with her wife and pets, she loves to travel. She gave up her marketing career in order to make stuff up for a living instead. She claims the similarities are startling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 27, 2022
Moving to a remote Scottish island for a secretive work project has Sarah Campbell scrambling to adapt to the slow pace of her new home. She is definitely not in London anymore and Sarah’s home is far from new. It requires a massive list of repairs to be habitable.
Pippa Kent moved to the island after her wife passed away six years ago. She works part time as a remote structural engineer and the rest of her time as a handywoman. Pippa is called on to do the repairs for Sarah.
There is a whole subterfuge of Pippa pretending to be Sarah’s girlfriend for the sake of her mother. This is the most logical and realistic fake romance that I have ever read. Radley has outdone herself.
The story fluctuates between Sarah and Pippa’s points of view. Although Pippa is the most sympathetic character, I am intrigued by Sarah, her intelligence, her work and her broken relationship with her mother.
Reclaiming Love is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. Radley takes her time in telling this story and we are all the lucky beneficiaries.
I received an advanced review copy from Bold Stroke Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pippa Kent moved to the island after her wife passed away six years ago. She works part time as a remote structural engineer and the rest of her time as a handywoman. Pippa is called on to do the repairs for Sarah.
There is a whole subterfuge of Pippa pretending to be Sarah’s girlfriend for the sake of her mother. This is the most logical and realistic fake romance that I have ever read. Radley has outdone herself.
The story fluctuates between Sarah and Pippa’s points of view. Although Pippa is the most sympathetic character, I am intrigued by Sarah, her intelligence, her work and her broken relationship with her mother.
Reclaiming Love is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. Radley takes her time in telling this story and we are all the lucky beneficiaries.
I received an advanced review copy from Bold Stroke Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 21, 2022
3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading this book, it touches upon some serious and emotional topics, but it does so without becoming very dramatic or angsty.
This is an age-gap romance and both main characters have their emotional baggage to deal with. Pippa, the local handywoman, has retreated to the island she grew up on to deal with her grief after losing her wife. I liked both MCs, but Pippa is hands down my favorite.
Sarah comes to the island to work on a secret project, one that especially her mother (an eco-activist) should not know about. Her relationship with her mother is troublesome and that’s easy to see why when her mother arrives on the island. What an awful human being, but she does stir up the situation on the island nicely.
The story is set on a Scottish Island and the location was one of the things that made me want to read this. I was hoping for a small town with its quaint inhabitants and customs,
but unfortunately, the local interactions and flavor were largely missing.
At some point in the story there is a fauxmance situation which breaks through their emotional protection and forces them together, and I enjoyed their interactions and the slow burn romance. One of the things that I noticed immediately was the good communication, of course there are things unsaid that are used for the plotline, but in general they were very frank and open with each other. I liked them together, but their chemistry was not bubbling of the page, more a comfortable kind of feeling, and like most of Radley’s books there were no explicit sex scenes.
A few things were left untouched, like what happens between Sarah and her mother in the end, and not all of the science vs nature preservation conflict was explored, it felt a little bit superficial and repetitive at times, but I’m likely being too demanding there.
A charming romance that is well-paced and had a plotline that kept me interested.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an age-gap romance and both main characters have their emotional baggage to deal with. Pippa, the local handywoman, has retreated to the island she grew up on to deal with her grief after losing her wife. I liked both MCs, but Pippa is hands down my favorite.
Sarah comes to the island to work on a secret project, one that especially her mother (an eco-activist) should not know about. Her relationship with her mother is troublesome and that’s easy to see why when her mother arrives on the island. What an awful human being, but she does stir up the situation on the island nicely.
The story is set on a Scottish Island and the location was one of the things that made me want to read this. I was hoping for a small town with its quaint inhabitants and customs,
but unfortunately, the local interactions and flavor were largely missing.
At some point in the story there is a fauxmance situation which breaks through their emotional protection and forces them together, and I enjoyed their interactions and the slow burn romance. One of the things that I noticed immediately was the good communication, of course there are things unsaid that are used for the plotline, but in general they were very frank and open with each other. I liked them together, but their chemistry was not bubbling of the page, more a comfortable kind of feeling, and like most of Radley’s books there were no explicit sex scenes.
A few things were left untouched, like what happens between Sarah and her mother in the end, and not all of the science vs nature preservation conflict was explored, it felt a little bit superficial and repetitive at times, but I’m likely being too demanding there.
A charming romance that is well-paced and had a plotline that kept me interested.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2022
Secret project.
This one is nice, which comes as a surprise to me because I generally don't see the appeal of women with toolbelts like some other lesbians do. But this story is pleasant enough. The chemistry between the characters isn't earth-shattering but it's there and I can understand why Sarah and Pippa would be interested in each other even though they are vastly different people because loneliness is something both share.
To be honest, I was a little half-hearted at the start. Pippa, the handywoman, was condescending and there was just too much conversation about house repairs. But I warmed up to Pippa eventually, especially after she stepped in to help Sarah out with a fauxmance to deceive Sarah's mother. The story got better for me and interesting too, especially with the contention between Sarah and her secret tech work project and her crazy environmental fanatic mother.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one is nice, which comes as a surprise to me because I generally don't see the appeal of women with toolbelts like some other lesbians do. But this story is pleasant enough. The chemistry between the characters isn't earth-shattering but it's there and I can understand why Sarah and Pippa would be interested in each other even though they are vastly different people because loneliness is something both share.
To be honest, I was a little half-hearted at the start. Pippa, the handywoman, was condescending and there was just too much conversation about house repairs. But I warmed up to Pippa eventually, especially after she stepped in to help Sarah out with a fauxmance to deceive Sarah's mother. The story got better for me and interesting too, especially with the contention between Sarah and her secret tech work project and her crazy environmental fanatic mother.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2022
This was a combination of slow burn, age gap and fauxmance all rolled into one delightful read. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
We have Sarah a tech nerd who is responsible for a data center that is being tested for a new and more echo friendly process. Sarah moves to a remote Scottish island to test her research. Her corporation sets her up in an old rundown house on a cliff above the ocean. The house is badly in need of repairs.. Sarah hires Pippa (love that name) a handywoman to make the repairs and renovate the house. Meanwhile Sarah’s mother is an environmental activist who is constantly fighting her daughter over environmental issues. Sarah’s mom is also very mean and treats her daughter badly
I also enjoyed the setting on the island and the laid back country lifestyle.
ARC received for a voluntary and honest review.
We have Sarah a tech nerd who is responsible for a data center that is being tested for a new and more echo friendly process. Sarah moves to a remote Scottish island to test her research. Her corporation sets her up in an old rundown house on a cliff above the ocean. The house is badly in need of repairs.. Sarah hires Pippa (love that name) a handywoman to make the repairs and renovate the house. Meanwhile Sarah’s mother is an environmental activist who is constantly fighting her daughter over environmental issues. Sarah’s mom is also very mean and treats her daughter badly
I also enjoyed the setting on the island and the laid back country lifestyle.
ARC received for a voluntary and honest review.
June 4, 2022
Reclaiming Love by Amanda Radley is a character driven romance with appealing protagonists that will capture your heart. The story also contains some reader-favorite tropes including age-gap, slow-burn, fake girlfriend/relationship, and enemies-to-lovers.
The two characters meet when Sarah Campbell is sent to a small Scottish island by her high tech employer to work on a very secret project. Sarah has a few problems though. The house her company bought for her to live and work in is in shambles, and Sarah is worried it will collapse with her inside one day, especially since she has absolutely no maintenance or handyperson skills. Enter Pippa Kent, the best handywoman on the island even if she is a bit outspoken in her thoughts about Sarah’s lack of household repair skills. The two have a rough start but eventually become friends with an undercurrent of simmering chemistry. Then Sarah’s eco-terrorist mother shows up to visit her daughter and “Natalie”, the nonexistent girlfriend Sarah invented to explain to her mother why she moved to this remote island.
Both Sarah and Pippa have baggage from their pasts that cause angst in this tale. Sarah has a mother who has always been distant and emotionally abusive to Sarah, disparaging everything from her looks to the job she chose. Pippa is a widower who is determined not to fall in love again. Both women are very well written. Their story had me hooked from the beginning. The setting is both beautiful and vivid. Now I want to visit a remote Scottish island just like this one. I just have to talk my partner into it.
Ms. Radley has created a love story that all romance lovers, and especially her many fans with enjoy. I’m very glad I had the chance to read this novel.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
The two characters meet when Sarah Campbell is sent to a small Scottish island by her high tech employer to work on a very secret project. Sarah has a few problems though. The house her company bought for her to live and work in is in shambles, and Sarah is worried it will collapse with her inside one day, especially since she has absolutely no maintenance or handyperson skills. Enter Pippa Kent, the best handywoman on the island even if she is a bit outspoken in her thoughts about Sarah’s lack of household repair skills. The two have a rough start but eventually become friends with an undercurrent of simmering chemistry. Then Sarah’s eco-terrorist mother shows up to visit her daughter and “Natalie”, the nonexistent girlfriend Sarah invented to explain to her mother why she moved to this remote island.
Both Sarah and Pippa have baggage from their pasts that cause angst in this tale. Sarah has a mother who has always been distant and emotionally abusive to Sarah, disparaging everything from her looks to the job she chose. Pippa is a widower who is determined not to fall in love again. Both women are very well written. Their story had me hooked from the beginning. The setting is both beautiful and vivid. Now I want to visit a remote Scottish island just like this one. I just have to talk my partner into it.
Ms. Radley has created a love story that all romance lovers, and especially her many fans with enjoy. I’m very glad I had the chance to read this novel.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
June 1, 2022
With Radley’s writing you know what to expect and I am happy the author delivers again. With the last view releases I didn’t always feel the connection and chemistry between the MCs, this one is back on true Radley form.
Sarah moves to a tiny Scottish island for work, a top secret work project. She meets Pippa, the local handyperson. From the blurb I’d say I would instantly like Pippa, but in the first few chapters she is super condescending and not a nice person at all. Luckily she redeems herself later in the book and I grew rather fond of her. This book is an age gap fauxmance, they embark on this fauxmance because of Sraah’s mom. And let me tell you, what a character, she isn’t nice or motherly in the least.
I do find that the book maybe has a little too much of renovation and work talk. I get it, they are important to the relationships in this book, but I feel like we could have done with a little more insight into the people/ relationships from a personal angle, instead of professional. Although with Sarah’s mom there is no difference…
I understand the struggles these characters face to decide if this thing between them is worth pursuing or not. There are a ton of difference and there is the tiny white lie about Sarah’s work…
I liked this book, Radley’s writing is always comfortable. Some fade to black intimacy and a nice connection, all very comforting and easy to read.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
Sarah moves to a tiny Scottish island for work, a top secret work project. She meets Pippa, the local handyperson. From the blurb I’d say I would instantly like Pippa, but in the first few chapters she is super condescending and not a nice person at all. Luckily she redeems herself later in the book and I grew rather fond of her. This book is an age gap fauxmance, they embark on this fauxmance because of Sraah’s mom. And let me tell you, what a character, she isn’t nice or motherly in the least.
I do find that the book maybe has a little too much of renovation and work talk. I get it, they are important to the relationships in this book, but I feel like we could have done with a little more insight into the people/ relationships from a personal angle, instead of professional. Although with Sarah’s mom there is no difference…
I understand the struggles these characters face to decide if this thing between them is worth pursuing or not. There are a ton of difference and there is the tiny white lie about Sarah’s work…
I liked this book, Radley’s writing is always comfortable. Some fade to black intimacy and a nice connection, all very comforting and easy to read.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
May 16, 2022
Reclaiming Love is follows the story of Pippa and Sarah who are thrown together after a white lie forces them to pretend to be girlfriends when Sarah’s mom drops in for an unexpected visit. They couldn’t be more different, Sarah works for a tech company, and Pippa is a retired structural engineer acting as her small community handy person, but they find themselves getting along just fine in their ploy.
Like most of Amanda Radley’s books this is a sweet romance. They are both recovering from past traumas and have each given up on love in different ways. Sarah’s mother is not a typical mom and has added her own brand of drama to Sarah’s life. I enjoyed the backdrop of this remote Scottish island as well but I do wish we had some more interactions with the other townspeople. Robin was a comedy of errors and I’m sure an imaginary quaint town like this should have more than one quirky side character. I liked the two characters separately but I felt like they lacked chemistry in some of the scenes. I did highly enjoy the whole tech backstory though and it prompted a few google searches to find out that it is in fact reality. I do work in tech myself and it’s always nice to find characters that i can connect with on a more personal level. Overall great book that would be perfect for anyone looking for a sweet romance.
Like most of Amanda Radley’s books this is a sweet romance. They are both recovering from past traumas and have each given up on love in different ways. Sarah’s mother is not a typical mom and has added her own brand of drama to Sarah’s life. I enjoyed the backdrop of this remote Scottish island as well but I do wish we had some more interactions with the other townspeople. Robin was a comedy of errors and I’m sure an imaginary quaint town like this should have more than one quirky side character. I liked the two characters separately but I felt like they lacked chemistry in some of the scenes. I did highly enjoy the whole tech backstory though and it prompted a few google searches to find out that it is in fact reality. I do work in tech myself and it’s always nice to find characters that i can connect with on a more personal level. Overall great book that would be perfect for anyone looking for a sweet romance.
May 26, 2022
Reclaiming Love
by Amanda Radley
MC Pippa Kent & Sarah Campbell
Review
This age-gap romance finds Sarah moving to a small Scottish island to focus on a work project. She left behind a little white lie. That is sure to bring about problems in the future. She rents a run down old cottage in desperate need of repairs, which is not Sarah’s bag. She hires Pippa, a handywoman to make the repairs and this is where the fun begins
Now Pippa is going through the motions of life since her wife passed away. So she is dealing with her own issues.
Now enter Sarah’s mother, very much evil queen vibes. She doesn’t have a close relationship with Sarah and loves to nit pick. Sarah finds herself in fake relationship with Pippa to cover up the little lie that she told. But feelings start to grow…….
I always love Amanda Radley. Her books are super sweet.
Pippa stole the show for me. She’s kind and you can’t help but fall in love with her character.
I highly recommend book. It’s very sweet and charming. 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
by Amanda Radley
MC Pippa Kent & Sarah Campbell
Review
This age-gap romance finds Sarah moving to a small Scottish island to focus on a work project. She left behind a little white lie. That is sure to bring about problems in the future. She rents a run down old cottage in desperate need of repairs, which is not Sarah’s bag. She hires Pippa, a handywoman to make the repairs and this is where the fun begins
Now Pippa is going through the motions of life since her wife passed away. So she is dealing with her own issues.
Now enter Sarah’s mother, very much evil queen vibes. She doesn’t have a close relationship with Sarah and loves to nit pick. Sarah finds herself in fake relationship with Pippa to cover up the little lie that she told. But feelings start to grow…….
I always love Amanda Radley. Her books are super sweet.
Pippa stole the show for me. She’s kind and you can’t help but fall in love with her character.
I highly recommend book. It’s very sweet and charming. 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
July 1, 2022
Not one of her finest novels, in my opinion. But then her books are pretty fine. Nevertheless this was widely different to the usual trope out there.
July 2, 2022
The first thing that grabbed me about this book is its setting on a remote Scottish island. I'm an absolute softy when it comes to books set on islands or in small-town settings. so immediately I'm going to love it no matter what!
Reclaiming love, as everything you need in a romance book, slow burn and sparkes, and of course, we always seem to get the spiteful character, in this case, it's one of the main characters' mothers. Liked to note here, that it's a pretty bad relationship and could cause a reader some upset, so please take that in mind, because this mother has toxic traits and could trigger someone who has experienced this at some point in their lives.
I enjoyed Reclaiming love, it's a lovely story and is worth the read. I've given this story a 3.6 out of 5
Reclaiming love, as everything you need in a romance book, slow burn and sparkes, and of course, we always seem to get the spiteful character, in this case, it's one of the main characters' mothers. Liked to note here, that it's a pretty bad relationship and could cause a reader some upset, so please take that in mind, because this mother has toxic traits and could trigger someone who has experienced this at some point in their lives.
I enjoyed Reclaiming love, it's a lovely story and is worth the read. I've given this story a 3.6 out of 5
August 24, 2022
Problematic mother-daughter relation seems to be the main topic of this story. Still, there’s a romance that eases all problems.
Sarah, a successful geek over thirty, is given a job on a small, quiet Scottish island. In addition, her work is classified as top secret. This young city woman is stressed out by her temporary residence in a decaying home, the neglected garden, and the island's isolation from the mainland. Pippa Kent, the solution to all problems, appears. The local, Sarah presume, who is smart, attractive, and extremely handy. Pippa tries to be helpful when Sarah's toxic mother visits her daughter and her newly domesticated girlfriend—whom Sarah made up to appease her mother—Pippa makes an effort to be supportive of both of them. Pippa agrees to play the role of the perfect girlfriend.
Naturally, Amanda Radley designed characters that are difficult to resist falling in love with right away. The ideal next-door personalities can be found in both MCs. The creations are flawlessly executed. In order to empathize with the MCs even more, we learn about their backgrounds. Additionally, Sarah's mother has a very real and cunning attitude. Such mother-daughter relationships seem unheard of, but they do occur more frequently than we might think. The ideal recipe for any toxic relationship is provided by Amanda Radley.
Every time I pick up one of Radley's books, I know it won't be a waste of time. It wasn't any different this time. This work is remarkable and deserving of recommendation due to the expertly rendered characters, their motivations, and the subtle insight into the two closest connected people.
Sarah, a successful geek over thirty, is given a job on a small, quiet Scottish island. In addition, her work is classified as top secret. This young city woman is stressed out by her temporary residence in a decaying home, the neglected garden, and the island's isolation from the mainland. Pippa Kent, the solution to all problems, appears. The local, Sarah presume, who is smart, attractive, and extremely handy. Pippa tries to be helpful when Sarah's toxic mother visits her daughter and her newly domesticated girlfriend—whom Sarah made up to appease her mother—Pippa makes an effort to be supportive of both of them. Pippa agrees to play the role of the perfect girlfriend.
Naturally, Amanda Radley designed characters that are difficult to resist falling in love with right away. The ideal next-door personalities can be found in both MCs. The creations are flawlessly executed. In order to empathize with the MCs even more, we learn about their backgrounds. Additionally, Sarah's mother has a very real and cunning attitude. Such mother-daughter relationships seem unheard of, but they do occur more frequently than we might think. The ideal recipe for any toxic relationship is provided by Amanda Radley.
Every time I pick up one of Radley's books, I know it won't be a waste of time. It wasn't any different this time. This work is remarkable and deserving of recommendation due to the expertly rendered characters, their motivations, and the subtle insight into the two closest connected people.
June 17, 2022
I love Radley’s dynamic ice queens, the sparkling banter, flirting, tension, and human emotion. Sadly, that wasn’t present in this story.
The problem is both too much and not enough.
Too much dishonesty, negative feelings, uncomfortable drama
Not enough spark, sexual tension, real emotion
This reads like a HFN and ends without a solid plan for the MCs.
It’s still a well-written book and a decent read, but it didn’t wow me the way other Radley books have.
My rating: three stars
ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The problem is both too much and not enough.
Too much dishonesty, negative feelings, uncomfortable drama
Not enough spark, sexual tension, real emotion
This reads like a HFN and ends without a solid plan for the MCs.
It’s still a well-written book and a decent read, but it didn’t wow me the way other Radley books have.
My rating: three stars
ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 24, 2022
I actually really loved this book. Reclaiming Love just had 'something' about it which had me hooked from the moment I started reading. I'm not 100% sure what that something was exactly - there were a few common tropes thrown together; age gap, fake romance, forced proximity. For me, it seemed to have the perfect blend of romance, humour, angst, conflict and chemistry.
The concept is pretty simple - Sarah moves to a small Scottish island for a work project, where she inevitably meets, due to requiring her assistance, the only other available lesbian, Pippa, and sparks fly. Pippa is pretty much the perfect woman, however has a complicated past and has sworn off love. Sarah has baggage of her own, mainly in the form of her mother who comes to visit, bringing most of the angst and conflict with her.
Amanda Radley did a really great job in creating two characters who are authentic, and charismatic. She added in just enough angst to not over power the sweetness of the romance. And how lovely that both Pippa and Sarah could actually communicate with each other so we don't have to spend a huge chunk of the book groaning at conflict caused by miscommunication.
Reclaiming love was original, refreshing and really funny. If your looking for a book to lose yourself in for a few hours, I recommend giving it a read.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through NetGaley for my honest review.
The concept is pretty simple - Sarah moves to a small Scottish island for a work project, where she inevitably meets, due to requiring her assistance, the only other available lesbian, Pippa, and sparks fly. Pippa is pretty much the perfect woman, however has a complicated past and has sworn off love. Sarah has baggage of her own, mainly in the form of her mother who comes to visit, bringing most of the angst and conflict with her.
Amanda Radley did a really great job in creating two characters who are authentic, and charismatic. She added in just enough angst to not over power the sweetness of the romance. And how lovely that both Pippa and Sarah could actually communicate with each other so we don't have to spend a huge chunk of the book groaning at conflict caused by miscommunication.
Reclaiming love was original, refreshing and really funny. If your looking for a book to lose yourself in for a few hours, I recommend giving it a read.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through NetGaley for my honest review.
July 13, 2022
Such a lovely story!
Sarah’s secretive work leaves her in a difficult position, but having moved for her work to a remote Scottish Island, she finds herself needing some help to do up the rundown cottage her company have put her up in. Pippa is one of two handypeople on the island and ends up helping Sarah with everything the cottage needs, and then also by pretending to be her partner when her mother arrives.
As usual, Amanda has delivered a story in a style I love so much. It’s a simple but sweet romance, where two wonderful women have a connection that they try to fight due to their own vulnerabilities but they are just perfect for one another. It is not a conventional romance with the fake element when Sarah’s mother arrives, but hers and Pippa’s connection was definitely real. They were just meant to be and I am so glad fate intervened to bring them together.
They had a touching connection, one of care and compassion, more so on Pippa’s part, but when you learn everything they have both been through, their actions are more than explainable. Sarah’s mother arriving was the little push they both needed to progress things, and although the woman was a nightmare, I was so pleased she turned up or these two perhaps would have missed the chance to be happy together. Pippa’s been through some heartbreak, but I admire how quickly she became protective of Sarah and how she really wanted to help and hoped her and her mother could find a mutual understanding and bond again.
A great story, also full of fascinating facts that made it really exciting to learn all Sarah knew about her work and the dedication she had. I really enjoyed every moment of it, can’t recommend it enough, and as usual, can’t wait to read Amanda’s next story.
Sarah’s secretive work leaves her in a difficult position, but having moved for her work to a remote Scottish Island, she finds herself needing some help to do up the rundown cottage her company have put her up in. Pippa is one of two handypeople on the island and ends up helping Sarah with everything the cottage needs, and then also by pretending to be her partner when her mother arrives.
As usual, Amanda has delivered a story in a style I love so much. It’s a simple but sweet romance, where two wonderful women have a connection that they try to fight due to their own vulnerabilities but they are just perfect for one another. It is not a conventional romance with the fake element when Sarah’s mother arrives, but hers and Pippa’s connection was definitely real. They were just meant to be and I am so glad fate intervened to bring them together.
They had a touching connection, one of care and compassion, more so on Pippa’s part, but when you learn everything they have both been through, their actions are more than explainable. Sarah’s mother arriving was the little push they both needed to progress things, and although the woman was a nightmare, I was so pleased she turned up or these two perhaps would have missed the chance to be happy together. Pippa’s been through some heartbreak, but I admire how quickly she became protective of Sarah and how she really wanted to help and hoped her and her mother could find a mutual understanding and bond again.
A great story, also full of fascinating facts that made it really exciting to learn all Sarah knew about her work and the dedication she had. I really enjoyed every moment of it, can’t recommend it enough, and as usual, can’t wait to read Amanda’s next story.
October 21, 2022
Really enjoyed this one - but who can’t love the idea of relocating on a Scottish island, especially when under the heading of Romance? Recommended.
May 20, 2022
Sarah comes to a remote Scottish island to monitor a data center that her company is secretly testing off shore. It is more better ecologically for the environment and is fish friendly too. She is to live in a run down ocean view home her company owns. Her boss gives her permission to repair and renovate which has her contacting Pippa an all around handy-woman. She is an architect by training and still consults for her old work but she lives in her grandfathers house and came to the island six years before. She enjoys the quiet simple life and finds satisfaction is doing her handy work. After bumpy start Pippa is a fixture at Sarah’s home working on the renovating. When Sarah’s environmental activist mother comes to visit Pippa poses as Sarah’s fake girlfriend to explain why she is living in a remote area. Her mother does not approve of the Sarah’s work.
I gave Radley’s last book five stars but this one didn’t work as well for me. The characters are good but Radley falls back on telling you what Sarah and Pippa are thinking but not showing it. Radley likes age-gap romances. They are 34 and 48 respectively and they do communicate honestly as friends. But there is no flirting or banter. I just didn’t see the connection growing other than knowing Pippa was Sarah’s type which is mentioned more than once. Radley leaves intimacy off the page except for kissing, which she often does. But in a gentle romance like this I feel the sparks are missing. I would have enjoyed more interaction with the locals like another encounter with the male handy-man or gossiping neighbors.
I’m enjoyed the story and especially the Scottish location. But I can’t think of a scene or parts of a book that I want to immediately re-read. For me that is a sign of an average story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I gave Radley’s last book five stars but this one didn’t work as well for me. The characters are good but Radley falls back on telling you what Sarah and Pippa are thinking but not showing it. Radley likes age-gap romances. They are 34 and 48 respectively and they do communicate honestly as friends. But there is no flirting or banter. I just didn’t see the connection growing other than knowing Pippa was Sarah’s type which is mentioned more than once. Radley leaves intimacy off the page except for kissing, which she often does. But in a gentle romance like this I feel the sparks are missing. I would have enjoyed more interaction with the locals like another encounter with the male handy-man or gossiping neighbors.
I’m enjoyed the story and especially the Scottish location. But I can’t think of a scene or parts of a book that I want to immediately re-read. For me that is a sign of an average story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2022
Sarah Campbell works for a tech company that sends her to Celfare, a Scottish island, to live in a dilapidated old cottage and monitor a top-secret experiment that, if successful, will set off a whirlwind of controversy lead by her eco warrior mother. Sarah is given a generous amount of money to rehab the cottage and she hires a local handywoman, Pippa Kent, a former structural engineer, to get the job done. Disaster strikes when her mother announces she’s coming to Celfare which sends Sarah into a tailspin because she told her mother she was moving to the island to live with her girlfriend, Natalie. Only, Natalie doesn’t exist. When she asks Pippa to pretend to be Natalie, she adamantly refuses – until she meets Sarah’s narcissistic mom.
This is a slow-moving story with both characters denying their attraction to each other while telling themselves they don’t want a relationship. Radley has chosen to focus much of the book on Sarah’s relationship, or lack thereof, with her mother so much that the book becomes angsty and the issues are often repeated more than once. Readers may find themselves skimming over, or ignoring, the passages that deal with the mother.
Fans of Radley will undoubtedly enjoy this book. If you’re a fan of a ton of angst and wordy novels, this book is for you. If you prefer that your romance novels have a scarcity of angst and are tightly written, this is probably not the book for you.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.
This is a slow-moving story with both characters denying their attraction to each other while telling themselves they don’t want a relationship. Radley has chosen to focus much of the book on Sarah’s relationship, or lack thereof, with her mother so much that the book becomes angsty and the issues are often repeated more than once. Readers may find themselves skimming over, or ignoring, the passages that deal with the mother.
Fans of Radley will undoubtedly enjoy this book. If you’re a fan of a ton of angst and wordy novels, this book is for you. If you prefer that your romance novels have a scarcity of angst and are tightly written, this is probably not the book for you.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.
June 4, 2022
What an interesting read. There is a secret and Sarah Campbell has to keep it especially from her mother. Her mother, Angela, wow is all I can say. Mother and daughter in general want the same thing but go about it in very different ways. Pippa Kent, semi-retired structural engineer, loner grieving from a personal loss. This age-gap romance is entertaining to watch as they pull and push each other. The read is also educational in regards to technology which in my opinion is a good thing. An opportunity to think about something that I never previously thought about. I did wonder what happened between Sarah and Angela after the epic fallout.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
May 19, 2022
Sarah moves to a remote Scottish isle to supervise a very secret IT project. A secret she must keep as far away as possible from her environmental activist mother. So she makes up a girlfriend.
On the little island she is met by a barely fir to live in cottage and so she meets the isle handyperson. Pippa and Sarah end up spending a lot of time together as the cabin is being renovated. And then mummy dearest comes for a surprise visit.
It’s a cliche to say this is a classic Radley but it’ got an interesting topic, it’s charming, has a couple of kisses here and there, it’s well structured and written.
Free Arc via Netgalley.
On the little island she is met by a barely fir to live in cottage and so she meets the isle handyperson. Pippa and Sarah end up spending a lot of time together as the cabin is being renovated. And then mummy dearest comes for a surprise visit.
It’s a cliche to say this is a classic Radley but it’ got an interesting topic, it’s charming, has a couple of kisses here and there, it’s well structured and written.
Free Arc via Netgalley.
July 31, 2022
3.5
Reclaiming Love is a sweet, cozy novel that fills you up with a warm, fuzzy feeling and it was exactly what I needed when I read it. The book follows our main character, Sarah, who is moving to a remote Scottish island, to work on a secret project for her company. She works for a big tech company, and she loves it - but the job's causing big strife between Sarah and her impossible-to-please mother, who's an eco-activist. To placate her mother she lies, saying she's moved there to live with her girlfriend (who doesn't exist). Her company has provided housing, but it's far from perfect - the house is in terrible shape. This means Sarah has to find a person to do the repairs, and that's how she meets Pippa. They get off on the wrong foot but soon form a friendship. Pippa's moved to the island after her wife's death several years ago. Everything's going great, until Sarah's mother decides to pay a visit, to meet her daughter's girlfriend. Desperate, Sarah begs Pippa to play the part of her girlfriend, and that causes many emotions to rise to the surface.
This is a really sweet book, following the two characters, Sarah and Pippa. Even though their relationship starts off shakey, it is obvious there's attraction between them from the very beginning. Both are carrying their own baggage, Sarah's got previous failed relationships hanging over her, and her mother's impossible standards she fails to meet, and Pippa is still grieving her late wife, who she loved dearly. They both appear to be closed off, and the presence of Sarah's mother forces them to drop some of their walls and face their feelings. I enjoyed their relationship quite a bit. It was very sweet and tender, I enjoyed seeing them interact and they had good communication - which is always great to see.
Another plotline follows Sarah's job, and subsequently her relationship with her mother. Sarah's great at what she does, which is the cause of many arguments with her mother. Her mother, who sees Sarah's company as the enemy, pesters her about finding a new job at every turn. Even more so, she criticizes everything Sarah does, and is in general, very unlikeable and frankly, emotionally abusive towards her. Her mother's appearance, causes fallout both in Sarah's personal life and her job, as her mother turns out to have ulterior motives for visiting. I felt like the novel did a great job of showing what living with a narcissistic parent is like, and how sometimes there's no conversation to be had that could fix that. However, there is something that feels slightly unfinished in their relationship, as it's not brought up again after Sarah's mother leaves. I understand their relationship probably won't be repaired, however, the ending seemed slightly rushed as this was still a loose thread that was left, and part of the reason my rating isn't higher even though I enjoyed the story a lot.
All in all, this was a sweet story that follows two characters learning to live with their baggage and learning to accept they deserve happiness and love. I really enjoyed reading about Sarah and Pippa's relationship and enjoyed both of their POVs. It's a quick read, I devoured it in one sitting, and I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a quick and feel-good book. :)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Reclaiming Love is a sweet, cozy novel that fills you up with a warm, fuzzy feeling and it was exactly what I needed when I read it. The book follows our main character, Sarah, who is moving to a remote Scottish island, to work on a secret project for her company. She works for a big tech company, and she loves it - but the job's causing big strife between Sarah and her impossible-to-please mother, who's an eco-activist. To placate her mother she lies, saying she's moved there to live with her girlfriend (who doesn't exist). Her company has provided housing, but it's far from perfect - the house is in terrible shape. This means Sarah has to find a person to do the repairs, and that's how she meets Pippa. They get off on the wrong foot but soon form a friendship. Pippa's moved to the island after her wife's death several years ago. Everything's going great, until Sarah's mother decides to pay a visit, to meet her daughter's girlfriend. Desperate, Sarah begs Pippa to play the part of her girlfriend, and that causes many emotions to rise to the surface.
This is a really sweet book, following the two characters, Sarah and Pippa. Even though their relationship starts off shakey, it is obvious there's attraction between them from the very beginning. Both are carrying their own baggage, Sarah's got previous failed relationships hanging over her, and her mother's impossible standards she fails to meet, and Pippa is still grieving her late wife, who she loved dearly. They both appear to be closed off, and the presence of Sarah's mother forces them to drop some of their walls and face their feelings. I enjoyed their relationship quite a bit. It was very sweet and tender, I enjoyed seeing them interact and they had good communication - which is always great to see.
Another plotline follows Sarah's job, and subsequently her relationship with her mother. Sarah's great at what she does, which is the cause of many arguments with her mother. Her mother, who sees Sarah's company as the enemy, pesters her about finding a new job at every turn. Even more so, she criticizes everything Sarah does, and is in general, very unlikeable and frankly, emotionally abusive towards her. Her mother's appearance, causes fallout both in Sarah's personal life and her job, as her mother turns out to have ulterior motives for visiting. I felt like the novel did a great job of showing what living with a narcissistic parent is like, and how sometimes there's no conversation to be had that could fix that. However, there is something that feels slightly unfinished in their relationship, as it's not brought up again after Sarah's mother leaves. I understand their relationship probably won't be repaired, however, the ending seemed slightly rushed as this was still a loose thread that was left, and part of the reason my rating isn't higher even though I enjoyed the story a lot.
All in all, this was a sweet story that follows two characters learning to live with their baggage and learning to accept they deserve happiness and love. I really enjoyed reading about Sarah and Pippa's relationship and enjoyed both of their POVs. It's a quick read, I devoured it in one sitting, and I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a quick and feel-good book. :)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2022
I know I sound like a broken record but I love Amanda Radley's writing. I think Reclaiming Love is my new favorite. I absolutely loved Pippa and Sarah - both as individuals and as a couple. I'm a sucker for both emotionally damaged characters AND pretend-to-real-love stories so this was doubly good for me. Combine that with that trademark Radley humor and it was damn near perfect.
Part of my connection to this novel probably comes from my own fraught relationship with my mother. I really felt for Sarah and she was much more caring and patient than I would have been. And Pippa's loss prompted lots of extra hugs for my wife. I love these characters and I'm going to miss them a lot.
Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the chance to read this one so quickly.
Part of my connection to this novel probably comes from my own fraught relationship with my mother. I really felt for Sarah and she was much more caring and patient than I would have been. And Pippa's loss prompted lots of extra hugs for my wife. I love these characters and I'm going to miss them a lot.
Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the chance to read this one so quickly.
July 18, 2022
Great.
I really enjoyed Reclaiming Love. It certainly opened my eyes to advances in technology. Oh, and the budding friendship/romance was great also.
I really enjoyed Reclaiming Love. It certainly opened my eyes to advances in technology. Oh, and the budding friendship/romance was great also.
December 2, 2022
Probably 3.5 stars if there were half stars. I love this author and the inclusion of a serious issue as part of the story is an extra draw for me. But this issue, or the way it played out, didn't do it for me. Maybe I didn't feel the evolution into the relationship as strongly this time; maybe some things were too close to home; maybe something else? Not sure, but still love the approach the author takes and will keep reading!
May 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Overall fell short of 3.5 by a bit.
I like the settings and the characters of this book. This is my first book by Radley and certainly not the last. The plot involves the characters' occupations more than a typical love story. I think the love story in this book is only a minor plot, even though everything else ties to it. This book deals with a mother-daughter relationship, grief, environmental consciousness, and technology.
I like the details about Sarah's and Pippa's jobs - being clueless in both, I had to look up some stuff to distinguish between the real world and fiction and I find the idea of a submerged data center fascinating.
The relationship between Sarah and Pippa fell short for me, maybe because it seemed forced (besides the nature of fake dating), but even at the beginning - "not being able to focus/work around each other because the other is hot."
At the end of the book, I'm more curious about the future for Billy than the romance.
I also want to see more of Sarah and her mom, although her mom makes me want to burn all the newspapers that she read just to cause chaos. Their ending wasn't satisfactory for me, but maybe it's best and realistic that the ending is like that.
The writing was ok. A few things were repetitive - why Pippa is the way she is, how Sarah knows her mom is a lost cause but still trying, etc. I think it would've been better if those were shown than simply stating them.
Overall fell short of 3.5 by a bit.
I like the settings and the characters of this book. This is my first book by Radley and certainly not the last. The plot involves the characters' occupations more than a typical love story. I think the love story in this book is only a minor plot, even though everything else ties to it. This book deals with a mother-daughter relationship, grief, environmental consciousness, and technology.
I like the details about Sarah's and Pippa's jobs - being clueless in both, I had to look up some stuff to distinguish between the real world and fiction and I find the idea of a submerged data center fascinating.
The relationship between Sarah and Pippa fell short for me, maybe because it seemed forced (besides the nature of fake dating), but even at the beginning - "not being able to focus/work around each other because the other is hot."
At the end of the book, I'm more curious about the future for Billy than the romance.
I also want to see more of Sarah and her mom, although her mom makes me want to burn all the newspapers that she read just to cause chaos. Their ending wasn't satisfactory for me, but maybe it's best and realistic that the ending is like that.
The writing was ok. A few things were repetitive - why Pippa is the way she is, how Sarah knows her mom is a lost cause but still trying, etc. I think it would've been better if those were shown than simply stating them.
May 17, 2022
Reclaiming Love was my first novel by Amanda Radley. Pippa and Sarah resort to fake dating when Sarah's mum visits after Sarah told a white lie about being in a relationship.
I enjoyed reading about two characters who were older than my usual reading (in thirties and fifties) while still being able to understand their trauma and motivations. My particular favourite in the story was Sarah's technology background, the way it was woven into the story.
Unfortunately the romance wasn't developed for me - I found that Pippa and Sarah didn't really have much chemistry and it really lacked in some scenes, almost as though the forced proximity was being written to fill the pages rather than further the plot.
I loved the location of a rural Scottish isle and wished we could have had more interaction with the town and its locals as I feel it could have really fleshed out the novel and given us some side characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading about two characters who were older than my usual reading (in thirties and fifties) while still being able to understand their trauma and motivations. My particular favourite in the story was Sarah's technology background, the way it was woven into the story.
Unfortunately the romance wasn't developed for me - I found that Pippa and Sarah didn't really have much chemistry and it really lacked in some scenes, almost as though the forced proximity was being written to fill the pages rather than further the plot.
I loved the location of a rural Scottish isle and wished we could have had more interaction with the town and its locals as I feel it could have really fleshed out the novel and given us some side characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2022
Good But Not Great
Sarah works for a huge tech giant company who moved her to a small Scottish island to secretly work on a controversial possibly world saving project. Her mother is an eco-terrorist busy body who would and could destroy her work so she tells a little lie. She says she moved to the village for love. Her new home needs major help but luckily for her, help is available. Pippa is a widowed, semi-retired structural engineer who is done with love and the rat race. After moving to the island, she still helps her former firm with projects but mostly works as a handy woman now. When Sarah calls Pippa for help with really simple projects, Pippa can’t help but wonder how someone could be so helpless but offers her services never the less. When Sarah’s mother decides to visit, she begs Pippa to pretend to be her partner, she refuses, but after meeting the dismissive and sole destroying woman, she finds herself introducing herself as Sarah’s lover. The more time they spend pretending, the more it seems real but Pippa isn’t willing to risk her heart again…or is she?
I liked this book a lot. I laughed at Sarah’s inability to do simple household things but is so brilliant at her very technical job. I loved watching Sarah and Pippa form a friendship and become something more but not just love, not yet anyway. Watching Sarah fall in love with the island was also sweet. I wanted so much for her and Pippa to get together. They had great chemistry. I HATED Sarah’s mom, as I’m sure was intended. She was cruel and dismissive and ever so difficult. She was also very hypocritical and self-serving. She was a necessary evil for the story but I really wished Sarah would have told her mother off and kicked her out of her life after everything went to hell in a hand basket. I was so invested in Sarah and hated that she was so hurt and never lashed out. It was the only part of the book that I really hated even though I really enjoyed the rest of the book. The ending sort of made up for the betrayal of her mom and I was so happy that things worked out. This wasn’t Ms Radley’s best work but I am glad to have read it anyway.
Sarah works for a huge tech giant company who moved her to a small Scottish island to secretly work on a controversial possibly world saving project. Her mother is an eco-terrorist busy body who would and could destroy her work so she tells a little lie. She says she moved to the village for love. Her new home needs major help but luckily for her, help is available. Pippa is a widowed, semi-retired structural engineer who is done with love and the rat race. After moving to the island, she still helps her former firm with projects but mostly works as a handy woman now. When Sarah calls Pippa for help with really simple projects, Pippa can’t help but wonder how someone could be so helpless but offers her services never the less. When Sarah’s mother decides to visit, she begs Pippa to pretend to be her partner, she refuses, but after meeting the dismissive and sole destroying woman, she finds herself introducing herself as Sarah’s lover. The more time they spend pretending, the more it seems real but Pippa isn’t willing to risk her heart again…or is she?
I liked this book a lot. I laughed at Sarah’s inability to do simple household things but is so brilliant at her very technical job. I loved watching Sarah and Pippa form a friendship and become something more but not just love, not yet anyway. Watching Sarah fall in love with the island was also sweet. I wanted so much for her and Pippa to get together. They had great chemistry. I HATED Sarah’s mom, as I’m sure was intended. She was cruel and dismissive and ever so difficult. She was also very hypocritical and self-serving. She was a necessary evil for the story but I really wished Sarah would have told her mother off and kicked her out of her life after everything went to hell in a hand basket. I was so invested in Sarah and hated that she was so hurt and never lashed out. It was the only part of the book that I really hated even though I really enjoyed the rest of the book. The ending sort of made up for the betrayal of her mom and I was so happy that things worked out. This wasn’t Ms Radley’s best work but I am glad to have read it anyway.
May 31, 2022
Sarah Campbell has known from an early age that her mother wasn’t motherly. As Sarah grew this didn’t change, even though Sahar did everything she could to get her mother’s attention. She had even gone so far as joining her mother and her eco-group ‘Planet Earth’, that was until she realized that all her mom cared about was her ‘work’ not the safety of her own daughter. She had led Sarah into many dangerous exercises in their quest to stop others from polluting the earth. But now Sarah was on her own mission which involved testing a computer system, where the main part of the experiment was sunk into the ocean off the coast of a small island, Celfare. When she arrived she found the house she was supposed to live in needed a lot of work just to make it livable.
Pippa Kent had moved to the island after the death of her wife. The idea of just picking up the pieces and going on wasn’t something she felt she could do. So she semi-retired on the island where she started her own handywoman service, along with working on special projects when her former boss needed her help. Now along comes Sarah with no idea on how to do the most basic jobs around the house she was renting. She, along with everyone else didn’t know what brought Sarah to the island for if it ever got out it could be destroyed by the very group her mother belonged to.
What happens when Sarah’s mother comes to visit, where she must never learn of the experiment ‘Billy’ or she will do everything to destroy it, never mind how her actions will affect her daughter. It’s up to Pippa to try and help Sarah. Of course, there is a little problem when it becomes apparent feelings are growing between them. If I was to criticize anything at all it’s the fact that Ms Radley’s newest books don’t have the same laugh out loud moments that her many fan have come to expect. All in all a very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
Pippa Kent had moved to the island after the death of her wife. The idea of just picking up the pieces and going on wasn’t something she felt she could do. So she semi-retired on the island where she started her own handywoman service, along with working on special projects when her former boss needed her help. Now along comes Sarah with no idea on how to do the most basic jobs around the house she was renting. She, along with everyone else didn’t know what brought Sarah to the island for if it ever got out it could be destroyed by the very group her mother belonged to.
What happens when Sarah’s mother comes to visit, where she must never learn of the experiment ‘Billy’ or she will do everything to destroy it, never mind how her actions will affect her daughter. It’s up to Pippa to try and help Sarah. Of course, there is a little problem when it becomes apparent feelings are growing between them. If I was to criticize anything at all it’s the fact that Ms Radley’s newest books don’t have the same laugh out loud moments that her many fan have come to expect. All in all a very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
July 4, 2022
First I would like to say that fake/pretend is my favourite trope!
So when I read that Amanda Radley had a book with this trope, I had to read it. The book follows Sarah as she moves to Celfare, as small Scottish island, for a ~secret mission for work. The cottage she's staying needs so much repair and that's when she meets Pippa, the handywoman that's gonna help around. I really liked their building relationship, as usual with Amanda Radley's books, it's dual POV and has an age-gap between the characters.
The classified project Sarah works on has to do with her corporation, Swype, a big name in industry, but viewed as a villain by Sarah's mother. It is explained in the book what it does, the impact it has etc. Since it's a made up company, I have no idea if the things described there would make sense in real life, and it honestly doesn't matter to me because this is a work of fiction.
The drama, and fake/pretend part, starts when Sarah's mother, ecoactivist, arrives at the island to supposedely meet Sarah's girlfriend - who doesn't exist and that's when Pippa enters. I wish we got to see more of them "pretending". I also really liked how Pippa defended Sarah to her mother. I absolutely despise her mother, but at the same time I wish we got to know more about her - I feel like she was kinda brainwashed by Martin, which in no way excuses her actions towards her own daughter.
After everything that happened we don't get to see more of her mother. I wasn't expecting a redemption on her part, because such as life, not always it has to have a happy ending. But I still wish we knew more of the aftermath.
Not my favourite Amanda Radley book, but I'm glad I read it and I would recommend it.
So when I read that Amanda Radley had a book with this trope, I had to read it. The book follows Sarah as she moves to Celfare, as small Scottish island, for a ~secret mission for work. The cottage she's staying needs so much repair and that's when she meets Pippa, the handywoman that's gonna help around. I really liked their building relationship, as usual with Amanda Radley's books, it's dual POV and has an age-gap between the characters.
The classified project Sarah works on has to do with her corporation, Swype, a big name in industry, but viewed as a villain by Sarah's mother. It is explained in the book what it does, the impact it has etc. Since it's a made up company, I have no idea if the things described there would make sense in real life, and it honestly doesn't matter to me because this is a work of fiction.
The drama, and fake/pretend part, starts when Sarah's mother, ecoactivist, arrives at the island to supposedely meet Sarah's girlfriend - who doesn't exist and that's when Pippa enters. I wish we got to see more of them "pretending". I also really liked how Pippa defended Sarah to her mother. I absolutely despise her mother, but at the same time I wish we got to know more about her - I feel like she was kinda brainwashed by Martin, which in no way excuses her actions towards her own daughter.
After everything that happened we don't get to see more of her mother. I wasn't expecting a redemption on her part, because such as life, not always it has to have a happy ending. But I still wish we knew more of the aftermath.
Not my favourite Amanda Radley book, but I'm glad I read it and I would recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2022
Reclaiming love brings together Pippa and Sarah for a sweet age gap romance. Although these two were unlikely to meet, circumstances bring them together.
Pippa has lost the love of her life and has made the decision to remain alone, forever. She left her old live and moved to a remote island.
Sarah loves her work, she lives for it and has little room for anything else. When a secret research opportunity brings her to a remote island, she meets Pippa.
At first, the MCs clash, because of their different personalities. As the story goes on they grow closer and eventually fall for one an other.
Unfortunately, I did not feel very much chemistry between the MCs. I think it’s because a lot of the story is spent on renovation, work and family trouble. I learned and felt much more of the relationship between Sarah and her mom then I did between her and Pippa. I wish there was a bit more time spent on their relationship. Although, it’s there, i wished for more. There is also no steam, which is completely fine but I feel it may have helped building up that chemistry.
I overall enjoyed the read and would recommend.
*** ARC generously provided by publisher on NetGalley ***
Pippa has lost the love of her life and has made the decision to remain alone, forever. She left her old live and moved to a remote island.
Sarah loves her work, she lives for it and has little room for anything else. When a secret research opportunity brings her to a remote island, she meets Pippa.
At first, the MCs clash, because of their different personalities. As the story goes on they grow closer and eventually fall for one an other.
Unfortunately, I did not feel very much chemistry between the MCs. I think it’s because a lot of the story is spent on renovation, work and family trouble. I learned and felt much more of the relationship between Sarah and her mom then I did between her and Pippa. I wish there was a bit more time spent on their relationship. Although, it’s there, i wished for more. There is also no steam, which is completely fine but I feel it may have helped building up that chemistry.
I overall enjoyed the read and would recommend.
*** ARC generously provided by publisher on NetGalley ***
July 28, 2022
3 stars. Sarah Campbell is working on research about a new server that would be underwater. She has to work on a small Scottish island where she can put this server underwater and remain undetected from groups that are wanting to destroy it, groups like the one Sarah's mom is a part of. When Sarah's mom comes to visit, Sarah has to get a fake girlfriend, Sarah had told her mom that she is on the Scottish Island due to finding a new girlfriend. Pippa Kent is the girlfriend she finds who is a handyman on the island., Pippa helps Sarah fix up her little shack.
I did not like the plot with Sarah's mom being a radical environmentalist, I found it more annoying and frustrating than anything. I love fake relationships turned real, but the parts with her mother were annoying and made me not enjoy the book as much. Overall, it was a cute little story as it was two people who did not expect to fall in love who did. I enjoy the author and her stories and I liked the characters in this book expect for the mother. This book was easy to read and I would recommend it if you like the author.
I did not like the plot with Sarah's mom being a radical environmentalist, I found it more annoying and frustrating than anything. I love fake relationships turned real, but the parts with her mother were annoying and made me not enjoy the book as much. Overall, it was a cute little story as it was two people who did not expect to fall in love who did. I enjoy the author and her stories and I liked the characters in this book expect for the mother. This book was easy to read and I would recommend it if you like the author.
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