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The Only Exception - Claire Huston

 


Description


Lucinda Green knows something is missing from her life. But what? Her catering business is enjoying modest success and she loves her cosy house, even if she does have to share it with her irritating ex-fiancé. 

 

Whatever’s making her unsettled and edgy, Lucinda’s certain that a lack of romance isn’t the problem. How could it be when she doesn’t believe in true love?

 

But Lucinda’s beliefs are shaken by a series of electric encounters with Alex Fraser, a newly notorious actor who gradually proves himself to be infuriatingly funny and smart, as well as handsome. 

 

Not that any of that matters. Because Lucinda doesn’t believe in all that ‘The One’ nonsense. That’s the rule.

 

But doesn’t every rule have an exception?

 

This uplifting grumpy-meets-sunshine romance is perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Katie Fforde and Trisha Ashley.


Review

This is the 3rd book by Claire that I have read and enjoyed. It shares locations and a character (Becky) with her first book, but you don't need to have read that book to enjoy The Only Exception, which is a self-contained love story.

The book begins with an alarming incident in a lift, and this is where Lucinda also first encounters Alex Fraser. Turns out Alex is very well known as a public figure, to everyone except Lucinda. So, despite the initial spark, she's happy to stay in her own little bubble.

Of course once she meets Alex again and so do her friends, she realises he is a little more than she first realised when she got off on the wrong foot with him. Lucinda is far too busy with her catering business for any romance and she has enough on her plate living with her ex fiancé too. Meanwhile she discovers Alex has a significant other who is a budding IG star, she really doesn't need to get involved.

I loved the characters of both Alex and Lucinda. Their partners not so much. I got really quite irate about the way his girlfriend Nicole treated Alex.  So of course I spent the book wishing Alex and Lucinda would get together, but it seemed it was not to be, as so many obstacles and mis understandings intervened. I really enjoyed my time settling down with the story.

Claire always invests time in a back story for her characters and makes them and their careers believable, and this book was no exception. I really relished the insights into the acting and catering worlds. 

There was also a twist that I never saw coming. I had to rethink very quickly one of the characters whom I had formed a strong opinion about in my mind from the start of the book.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Claire for the ARC to review.

About the Author

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK, with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but need a little help to realise it.


A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for all the cakes mentioned in Art and Soul, her first novel, at clairehuston.co.uk along with over 150 other recipes. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.



Social Media Links

You can also find Claire on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and Pinterest: https://linktr.ee/clairehuston_author

Comments

  1. Claire Huston7 June 2022 at 11:17

    Thank you so much! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it :-) x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Claire Huston7 June 2022 at 11:52

    Thank you so much for reading and reviewing The Only Exception! I'm delighted you enjoyed it :-) and really appreciate your support x

    ReplyDelete

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