Book Review: Finding Love At Sunset Shore by Bella Osborne

I am beyond excited to be welcoming Bella Osborne back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Finding Love At Sunset Shore.

Sometimes, you have to fake it until you make it…

Ros is too busy for a boyfriend; between work and looking after her poorly father, there’s no time left for a relationship. But when she overhears her dad’s dying wish is for her to find love, Ros is determined to make it happen – or at least, make it look like it has.

Enter Cameron, a struggling mature student with a mountain of debt but a zest for life.

Ros, driven by love for her ailing dad, reluctantly agrees to the simple business transaction: paying Cameron to play the role of her boyfriend. Ros meticulously plans their fake relationship – but when Cameron decides to go off-script, chaos ensues.

As Ros and Cameron navigate the ups and downs of their faux romance, their differences drive each other crazy. But they may just need each other more than they think…

*****

Ros likes order and structure. She is also so busy going between work and looking after her father that she doesn’t have time for love. However, when her father wishes to see her happy, she wants to make it so, or at least give that impression. Enter Cameron.

Darla’s parents think she’s off on adventures around the world, not living in Southampton working multiple jobs to pay off debts that had nothing to do with her. When a new job puts her in Elliott’s path, it’s annoyance at first sight but will it stay that way?

A new Bella Osborne novel. Ah, all is right with the world. First, this cover… hello. It’s georgous.

As you know, Bella is a previous contributor to Novel Kicks and so it’s a pleasure to welcome her back. I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour for her latest book, Finding Love at Sunset Shore.

As I’ve come to expect from novels by this author, there are wonderful, relatable, likeable characters. Ros is someone who knows how to be serious. She needs someone to bring her out of her shell whilst accepting her for who she is. Darla is the opposite. She likes people. These two together just work. I loved their friendship and how it grew over the course of the novel.

The boys are also perfect. For me, Cameron had a good vibe right from the beginning. Elliott’s introduction was a little bit bumpier but both were great additions to the narrative. I also found the relationship Ros had with her work colleagues interesting as it played with the idea of perception. And Patrick… well, I will let you make your own mind up about him. That’s all I will say. Haha.

The story itself unfolds well and has a few twists, turns and laugh out loud moments. I loved that it was based in Southampton. I lived there for a while so I could really picture the setting. However, if you’ve never been, the descriptions are very vivid. I especially loved Sunset Shore and how that was described.

I adored the animals featured. Gazza sounds like an adorable cuddle bug and I want to adopt Winston.

As Bella as a connection to Novel Kicks, I am sure some of you will be saying that I am a little bias. However, I know that I would love her novels regardless. This book, like the ones before, contains such warmth, humour, acceptance, friendship, family and love. Bella has a great talent for drawing readers in and making them feel like they are catching up with friends. I feel her characters are very diverse in personality and types.

Finding Love at Sunset Shore is a perfect companion for that summer holiday or the back garden weekend chill out (or comfy chair inside if the weather can’t make up its mind.) Wherever you read, it’s a beautiful escape even if only for a little while.

About Bella Osborne –

Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written eleven best-selling romantic comedies, two best-selling bookclub reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award.

Bella’s stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.

For more about Bella, visit her website at  or follow her on social media.

Say hello to Bella on her website, X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

Finding Love At Sunset Shore was released by Avon on 18th July 2024. Click to buy on Amazon, Waterstones, Kobo and Apple Books. 

Click here to read Bella’s previous posts on Novel Kicks. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.