Today, I am thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour for Helen J Rolfe‘s new book What Rosie Found Next. Please keep reading to the end of my review as there is a fabulous giveaway for you to enter!
What Rosie Found Next is a gorgeous story about Rosie Stevens, a professional house sitter who hasn’t had the easiest life but is trying to move forward. She just wants to settle down and have some stability and security. Adam is Rosie’s long-term boyfriend but he’s very career-driven and, in the short term, this keeps preventing them from having the life that Rosie craves. Owen is the son of the home owners that Rosie is now house-sitting for. Owen is the opposite of Rosie, he leads a nomadic lifestyle with no home of his own and has no intentions of settling down with anyone ever.
I loved the dynamic between Owen and Rosie! From the very beginning, when he arrives unannounced at his parents’ home where Rosie is housesitting, and immediately starts antagonising her it was apparent that there was an underlying chemistry between these two characters. So from the start I was very much looking forward to seeing how things developed between them. As the novel went on, I really did like how these two characters became closer, they got to be friends and started looking out for each other and forming a much deeper connection. It wasn’t a straightforward boy meets girl novel and I very much enjoyed that it was different.
The mystery element, regarding Owen’s family, that runs through much of this novel was really interesting. I couldn’t work out why Owen was so set on searching his parents’ house but it is apparent that whatever secret is being kept from him, it’s something that has been affecting him for a long time and has perhaps made him the way he is. It works well because Owen goes away to find out the truth about the past and in his time away from Rosie we get to see the development of his character through what he finds out.
I adored Magnolia Creek, what a gorgeous setting; the descriptions of the town are such that you can really picture the place and I’d love to actually go visit! I loved Bella’s cafe, and Bella herself. She is the lynch-pin of the town bringing everyone together and lifting their worries for a little while with tea and freshly-baked scones.
I really enjoyed this novel, it was different to what I had been expecting but I loved that parts of it surprised me. It has a real depth to it and I became so invested in these characters and was really willing them on to find happiness. It’s a really heart-warming read and I can’t wait to read more books by Helen J. Rolfe in the future!
I rate this novel 8 out of 10.
What Rosie Found Next is out now and available from AMAZON UK and AMAZON US
Thank you to Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What Rosie Found Next
Genre: Romantic fiction / Women’s fiction
Release Date: 3rd November 2015
A shaky upbringing has left Rosie Stevens craving safety and security. She thinks she knows exactly what she needs to make her life complete – the stable job and perfect house-sit she’s just found in Magnolia Creek. The only thing she wants now is for her long-term boyfriend, Adam, to leave his overseas job and come home for good.
Owen Harrison is notoriously nomadic, and he roars into town on his Ducati for one reason and one reason only – to search his parents’ house while they’re away to find out what they’ve been hiding from him his entire life. When he meets Rosie, who refuses to quit the house-sit in his parents’ home, sparks fly.
Secrets are unearthed, promises are broken, friendships are put to the test and the real risk of bushfires under the hot Australian sun threatens to undo Rosie once and for all.
Will Rosie and Owen find what they want or what they really need?
ABOUT HELEN J ROLFE
Helen J Rolfe writes contemporary women’s fiction. She enjoys weaving stories about family, relationships, friendships, love, and characters who face challenges and fight to overcome them.
Born and raised in the UK, Helen spent fourteen years living in Australia before returning home. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.
Facebook: http://facebook.com/helenjrolfe
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hjrolfe
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/helenjrolfe
As part of the book tour there is a chance to enter a giveaway for a chance to win £10 /$15 Amazon gift card. Please click on the link below to enter. Good luck!
RatherTooFondofBooks 
I love the cover of this book, it looks very intriguing. I also like the sound of Bella and her cafe.
Great review and nice giveaway!
Amanda.
Thank you. It’s a really good read, it has a bit more depth than I expected and so it kept me engrossed. I’d recommend it. 🙂
Love the sound of this story.
It’s a really good read, I recommend it.
I forgot to mention the cover lol. I love the colour way and how the house appears to be the focal point of the book and it looks like it could come between the man and the woman or it may bring them together. I love these artist drawing covers more than photographic ones 😊
Your interpretation of the cover is spot on, it really does show what the novel is about. I like artist’s drawings on covers too. 🙂
Thank you so much for reviewing and hosting a giveaway.
This cover took a while to design but I was so pleased with the end result.
Bella is one of my favourite secondary characters too…I may give her her own story in a later book perhaps 😃
Helen J Rolfe x
It’s a great cover and really does reflect the story. I very much enjoyed the book and I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that Bella gets her own story in a later book then. I’m sure there’s much more to know about her that would make a great story. 🙂 x
I didn’t intend for her to be such a focal character but she’s so lively and fun… I’ll get plotting! x
Ooh yes, please do! 🙂 I really want to know so much more about her. x
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