Review: Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles

Sweet Pursuits by Pauline Wiles
Series: Saffron Sweeting #2 (However, can be read as a standalone)
Published: January 26th, 2017
Publisher: Self-published
303 pages (eARC)
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Acquired this book: From the author in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
{GoodReads || Buy this book: Amazon US || Amazon CAN} 
 

What’s the recipe for a second chance at love?

After six blissful years with scientist boyfriend Owen, Bella Beecham was convinced he was about to pop the question she’d been longing to hear. Instead, he accepted a prestigious job in California and left England without a backwards glance. Now, Owen’s back in the village of Saffron Sweeting, and appears to be more eligible than ever. Bella’s determined that the man of her dreams won’t slip through her fingers again.

But her plans to tone up, trim down, and tempt Owen back into her life prove bittersweet. Although Bella’s talent for baking wins her new friends, her tasty treats have a disconcerting tendency to sabotage her own intentions. And as her increasingly bold attempts to recapture Owen’s heart stumble, Bella must question whether she’s chasing a guy who wants to be caught.

If you know me well, you’ll know I love romantic comedies - bonus points if they happen to be set in England. Sweet Pursuits fits both of these categories. Set in the small town of Saffron Sweeting, this book follows Bella on her quest to win back her ex, the ‘love of her life’, who not only dumped her, but took off to America without a backward glance...until several years later when he returns to England for his job. Bella, having never moved on, is determined to win Owen back by shedding some weight, sprucing up her wardrobe, and reminding him of the good times they shared.

I’ll admit, at first I had some issues with Bella wanting to lose weight to get Owen back. I’m generally against people changing to impress someone else, but I hung in there, having a feeling Bella’s misguided attempts would eventually turn into something more. They did. I grew to really admire Bella - she was smart, funny, and determined, the type of heroine who’s capable of saving herself from distress, albeit with a bit of help from loyal friends, both old and new. She learned a lot through the course of the book, and grew as a person. It was a pleasure to watch, and it inspired me in my own quest to become healthier and stick to my goals. 

Besides Bella, Sweet Pursuits had a great cast of characters. There were a lot of people to keep track of, which threw me a bit at first, but as each character’s personality began to shine through, it was easy to keep up. Each character added something special to the story, and it was nice to see Bella opening herself up to new people as well as new experiences.

Funny and charming, Sweet Pursuits is the type of chick lit I love. With a smart, well-rounded main character, a fun ensemble cast, and a plot that kept me interested, I'd definitely recommend Sweet Pursuits. 

Have you read Sweet Pursuits? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Do you enjoy women's fiction/chick lit?

{Instagram || Facebook || Twitter || GoodReads || Pinterest}