Review: It Should Have Been Me by Phillipa Ashley
Carrie has been Huw’s girlfriend and business partner for the past ten years and at long last it looks like Huw is about to make an honest woman out of her! Having been together for such a long time, Carrie thinks that she knows everything there is to know about Huw. She’s looking forward to the wedding day of her dreams and to spending the rest of her life working side by side with Huw on the farm which they both run. However, Carrie’s plans of a rural idyll come crashing to a halt when Huw informs her that he cannot go through with the wedding anymore and dumps her just weeks before the ceremony!
Carrie is absolutely devastated. She cannot believe that she’s wasted ten years on a man as gutless as Huw. Carrie cannot bear the pitying looks and the clichéd platitudes which her friends and family seem to be spouting at regular intervals; she yearns to run away and to be the fun-loving girl she knows herself to be rather than the tragic fiancée who has been jilted by her boorish partner. Luckily for her, her best friend, Rowena, suggests that they go on a road trip together and Carrie jumps at the chance with glee.
Carrie cannot wait to spend some quality time with her best friend topping up her tan, reading trashy magazine and indulging in a bit of harmless flirting with sexy surfers. However, when Rowena gets her big break on a daytime soap, she is forced to pull out of the trip. Carrie is dismayed that her much longed for trip has been cancelled – until Rowena announces that she’s told their old university friend Matt Landor to step into the breach and take her place.
Carrie is less than pleased when she finds out who her new traveling companion is going to be. Matt was a friend of Huw’s who has spent the past couple of years working as a doctor in remote areas across the globe, and judging by the angry glare on his face, he looks like he’s got plenty of issues of his own to deal with!
After college, Matt had got the first plane out of England in order to escape from his mother’s whining and his brother’s out of control drinking. When a tragic accident forced him to return back home, Matt was anything but pleased and he sees this road trip with Carrie as a chance to escape from the demons which haunt his every waking thought.
Thrown in close proximity together, Matt and Carrie soon find themselves unburdening themselves to one another, and when grudging respect gives way to a sizzling attraction, they find themselves wondering whether they might be falling in love with one another.
But with Matt being firmly set on returning back to his job on the other side of the world, does their relationship have any hope of a future?
Philippa Ashley has penned another engaging and engrossing romantic tale that I thoroughly enjoyed reading! Warm, witty and wise, It Should Have Been is the fourth enchanting romantic comedy by this wonderful award-winning author who never fails to pen smart tales featuring strong heroines, enigmatic heroes, intelligent plots, warm humour and realistic situations which readers can relate to.
Fun, grown-up and exquisitely written, It Should Have Been is another must-read romance from talented award-winning author Philippa Ashley!
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About the
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Genre: contemporary ISBN: 978-0755343348 Page Count: 320 Pages Price: $ £4.79 Reviewer: Julie Bonello |
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Sensuality Rating:
Sweet Star Rating: 4 Stars Author's Website: www.phillipa-ashley.com |
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LuAnn Morgan said:
This does sound like a good book. What a great story line!
Phillipa Ashley said:
Thanks for such a generous and lovely review, ST. I must admint, I have a soft spot for ISHBM and I love your interpretation of the story. P x