I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Just Date and See by Portia MacIntoshPublished by Boldwood Books on September 19, 2022
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 277
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
Blurb:
Billie is looking forward to a quiet, man-free Christmas. It’s just a shame her family doesn’t feel the same way…
With a house full of unexpected (and unwanted) guests, Billie needs to find the perfect escape to get away from the chaos.
So when her dating app recommends a week of singles nights in her area, Billie decides that braving these events has to be better than making conversation with her dad’s new wife, dealing with her mum’s mid-life crisis or witnessing her sister flirting with her insufferably arrogant next-door neighbour.
While this is definitely not the festive season she had planned, between disco bowling and boozy bingo, little does Billie know that she may find love this year after all – she’ll just have to date and see…
Fall in love with the perfect laugh-out-loud festive read from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh.
Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3NgWHjA
My Review
While I didn’t love this as much as the other book I read by this author, it definitely had a cute story that I enjoyed! I love how Billie’s quiet Christmas kept getting louder and louder as more and more people showed up as unexpected, and even uninvited house guests. Her family was fun, they each had personalities that made for some different drama to add to the whole craziness of the holidays. Her ex was a piece of work that in the end while he redeemed himself a bit, still that was crazy!
I was a little unsure about who was going to be the love interest for Billie at first. When the story started she was helping her mom pack up her old house and there was one of the moving guys it seemed like her mom might invite over, and there might have been a tiny bit of a spark there. Then I wondered if it would be an enemies to lovers story with her neighbor. And once she started going to the dating app events, the guy that seemed like he might be her match, well I doubted it because of how things had been going so far with the other guys!
But I ended up enjoying reading about the different dating app events, and I kind of wondered if I should maybe sign up and go to some. However my introverted self would probably hate every uncomfortable minute. I have tried speed dating in the past, never had any matches really.
My issues had to do with some of the writing towards the beginning. There was more of the telling than the showing and that bogged me down and made the beginning so-so for me. However as I got into the story, I began to just really have to know what was going to happen next and how Billie and her family would actually end up after the holidays. So overall it was a pretty cute story!
About the Author
Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 20 romantic comedy novels. From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.
Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.
Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/macintoshportia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortiaMacIntosh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portiamacintoshauthor/
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PortiaMacIntoshNews
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/portia-macintosh
I’m glad you enjoyed it overall. I have liked her books in the past, but didn’t pick this one up.
I’ve only read one other, but I really liked it, so thought I’d give this a chance too! And in the end I did like it.
I like when we don’t know who the love interest is. The novel sounds so cute. I’ve been shying away from the Steamy romances a bit.(blush)..hard to tell from the cover alone these days.
True. I prefer the cover that don’t have half naked men on them. But that means steamy books aren’t always obvious. I do like the steamy though! lol
I am happy that you ended up enjoying this one. It sounds like a fun read for the holidays. I will have to give it a try! 🙂
It’s an easy read too!