Jamie is proud of everything he’s achieved. A consultant anaesthetist and the Medical Education Director – he’s a pretty big deal. So when one of his medical students falls asleep, right in the middle of a tutorial, he is furious. He’s a bloody good teacher, damn it! Maybe he could have been a little more understanding. Maybe he didn’t have to try and humiliate her. But the shock of how beautiful … how beautiful this particular student was when she finally opened her eyes, and his inappropriate reaction, only fuelled his anger. He’s tired of lame excuses from wild party animals burning the candle at both ends, and he’s going to make an example of this one.
For Libby, pride is a luxury and beauty is currency. Pregnant at seventeen and an aspiring doctor, she couldn’t afford to be proud, so she cashed in on her looks instead. She will beg, borrow or steal to achieve her dreams and give her daughter the life she deserves, even if she has to forgo sleep – even if she has to leave her dignity behind.
But there’s only so far you can push yourself, only so much pressure you can be under until you break. Libby’s been on that cliff edge for a while; her health and the gorgeous, judgmental Education Director may just tip her over.
A kick in the shin from an adorable (if slightly scary) four-year-old and a confrontation with her tearful, exhausted mother soon forces Jamie to see what a bastard he’s been. Libby may not accept his help, but he’s relentless when he wants something, and it’s not long before he realizes that this mother and daughter belong with him …
This book is a full-length contemporary romance of approximately 90,000 words with no cliffhanger and its own HEA.
Praise for Beg, Borrow or Steal:
I LOVED THIS BOOK! Well written, funny, and heartwarming. If you haven’t read it go ahead and do it. You won’t regret any second of it. Rachel Campos Book Blog
OMG 10 stars. This book made me laugh, tear up a little in a few parts, and even cheer out loud. An amazing story. LK’s Angels book
I loved the story. It made for a real read, one packed with honest humour. Five stars. Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews
Five stars. I absolutely loved this book. Betsy Newmark – reviewer at All Romance All the Time
Really good romance book! The main character, Libby, is very Meredith Grey meets Izzy Stevens with her very own McDreamy. If you’re looking for a feel good book about friendship, love, and family, I highly suggest this one! Amanda Bowen – reviewer at The Binding Thread
This is the kind of book you want to share with your friends. I’m happy to give it Five Stars. Michelle Louise – reviewer at RoseLark Publishing
I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw this one available on NetGalley – a rabid dog couldn’t have lunged harder than I did for that request button! Love, love, loved it. Heck, I stayed up until 3:30 am to finish reading this when I have a really busy day at work today! Bananas are Tricky Reviews
I adored this book. Totally swoon worthy. Donna – reviewer at The Romance Cover
I loved the writing style! It really caught my attention, it was fluid and captivating, and I couldn’t put the book down. Elisa at Living in Our Own Story.
This one was a lovely surprise … the writing style was engaging and entertaining … chapters just flew by. And that epilogue … sighs happily. You are gonna love it. Definitely give this beautiful book a try. BookWorm8619 book blog
Fresh and different from other teacher/student romance stories. Shelley’s Book Corner
I loved everything about this book. Nose Stuck in a Book Blog
A romance novel that makes you swoon. Definitely recommend! Marianna’s Corner
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This was so much fun!
Same author as Sticks and Stones with its questionable AH hero, but well done female characters. Here Jamie the heroine is asingle mother-medical student that performs a unique burlesque act at a strip joint. When I say “unique” I don’t mean kinky unless it’s kinky NOT to take your clothes off at a strip joint.
Jamie is strong willed and ]kickass. One of the reviews called her a little too good to be true, but how refreshing to read a female character that doesn’t whine and flop around in her squalid bedsit waiting for a tycoon to come and blackmail her into a makeover, a new wardrobe and jewels. She pushes back a little too much, but gets there in the end. The hero is a judgmental schmuck that needs to and does grow up. But the real kicker of the story is the highly entertaining plot moppet, Rosie. A precocious 4 year old she is hands down the sparkle in the story. She’s not completely unrealistic but is so entertaining I don’t care.
‘Okay, Mummy,’ Rosie said in a stage whisper that for some reason managed to be louder than her normal volume. ‘I’ll be as quiet as a slug.’
‘Um … great. Let’s – ’ ‘
A slug whose been stepped on and all his insides have shot out … so he’s dead. As quiet as that.’
Susie Tate’s writing has a great voice and moves along. There are some editing issues but that’s pass for me when the story is good. Turns that Tate is a physician. So she’s a physician, a parent and finds time to write fun, pithy novels. Hmm.
Forget the generic setting that some books have. This book is quite squarely set in London and has enough slang and location information that I had to look up a few things. The secondary character are well done as well.
‘Oh, I bet he’s from a good family. And a doctor. I knew you’d meet a nice doctor if you went to medical school.’
There went her mother, a staunch feminist, setting back the movement she’d supposedly supported fifty years with one old-fashioned statement.
‘Just you wait till I tell Eileen Martin about this. Always on about her daughter married to a pharmacist. Is he Catholic?’
There is a sweet, schmaltzy moment at the end that adds a fairy tale element to the story. Not for everybody, but I liked it.
Beg, Borrow or Steal is the latest book of Susie Tate and I jumped at the chance to review this early! One of my favorite books is ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’ and even though this one did not beat BHS (Frankie, Tom… nah never), it still was a very entertaining read. Once started, I did not want to finish (but alas, sleeping is required at night).
Again a book in the medical world and in a lovely British setting (I just love words like ‘tosser’ haha), Libby is a medical student and a single mum. At 17 she got pregnant and now has a adorable 4-year-old. When Rosie was born Libby made a promise to make something of herself and she has been steadily working toward that goal (being a pediatrician). However, to afford being a medical student and also support herself and a young child, she has to work in a strip club at weekends. Using her athletic and dancing abilities, she has created a great performance and it makes her some good money.
Jamie Grantham is one of the doctors at the hospital she works and also the Education Director. At first he has the wrong impression of Libby and in return she dislikes him. Of course this does not take long, but how will Jamie react to her weekend job?
This is a very enjoyable story (again, very British) and I highly recommend. I though I would not like a story about a stripper, but the story is about doing anything for your family, your future. Do you have to be ashamed about this and why? How about the men that visit the club? Libby has to face a lot of scrutiny and I liked her reactions. The subject makes you think and reconsider your own opinions.
I thought Libby was a great character. Sometimes a bit too stubborn, but I could understand her point of view. Right at the point I thought she was taking her ‘beg, borrow or steal’ a bit too far the story took another turn again. So that kept it fresh. Conclusion: a great book!
There is a very interesting secondary character (Millie) who will be the MC in the next book and I am really looking forward to that one. (2017)
4.5 Stars!
Oh my goodness, this book was adorable. I enjoyed the whole thing and could barely set it down. Great writing, amazing character development (main and secondary,) fun dialogue, and an H/h I couldn’t help but root for. This was my first book by this author, but I now want to devour the rest of her back list. When I discovered the next book would be about the socially awkward Millie and Pav, I was elated. Bring it on. I can only imagine how this author will handle their romance. Beg, Borrow or Steal is a must read for those who enjoy humor, great banter, complex romantic plots (but lighter angst,) and wonderful characters all around.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters seemed very real. I believe it showed you have to look below the obvious traits of people. I especially liked the daughter of the h. She was hilarious. I could feel her mother cringing when something outrageous came out of her mouth. Every mother has been there. I would recommend this book.
If someone would have told me that this would become my next top favorite story, I wouldn’t probably take his word for granted. You see, when the author is a “first time” for me, I always hold myself back. But this time is different; this time, I would have hugged and kissed all over that someone since he couldn’t have been more right. Beg, Borrow or Steal (my a.k.a BBoS) earned every inch of those 6 stars up in the rate an then some more.
And, really, under what rock I was sleeping that I hadn’t indulged into, not only this amazing general-practitioner-turned-author, but also the AMAZEBALLS that is the Medical Romance genre. Honestly, it went straight to my tops. And who would have written it better than a doctor herself who have lived and is living most of her life inside a hospital, huh? I can’t put into words how awesome was the feeling to read the literal adaption of the “Grey’s Anatomy” love story style. I was simply surrendered to that amazeness.
Jamie & Libby. A doctor/teacher & his student. But in reality, two perfect halves who were completing an even more perfect whole. The connection they had was more than obvious from the start and powerful AF! Although, what really gave this couple the ticket to my Top list was the simple fact that, they may be a perfection when they were together, but they turned their love into a masterpiece when you put them separately and look at them as individuals. And if you add Rosie, Libby’s 4-year-old daughter, then the ticket turns into a golden one.
Rosie was a given gem. Seriously, that little girl was the real spark an devil an angel of this love story. Her golden heart and full of life and joy and attitude and …. dirt self made her the most adorable little girl I have encountered in a book. She was simply a phenomenon and a force to be reckoned with.
The same, though, goes for her mother as well. Multiplied by 10. Honestly, that woman was the definition of stubbornness, a fighter, hard work, a great mother, strength, talent and so many other words that I can’t put into words. She was a true inspiration for every female, small or adult, out there. She is the kind of woman whose name exists next to the definition of International Women’s Day. And it may sound absurd since she is only a character in a book, but trust me when I say, Libby’s character couldn’t be more real. There are countless females around the world who have been through some of the things she is going through and struggle every day to provide a better life to their precious kids, no matter their own cost. I give her a bow of respect and a standing ovation every time she comes to mind.
As for Jamie, I have officially lost count of the times he have made me swoon since I started reading BBoS. And he couldn’t be more perfect for Libby (and Rosie) since his level of stubbornness can easily rival and go head-to-head with that of Libby’s. Some times he might be a bit judgmental and unfair but he would always find a way to make it up to Lib with a mind-blowing way. His love for her and what he was willing to do and sacrifice so he can be with her, was just the bottom of Everest. His patience, also, was one for a prize, really. As for his relationship, interaction, instant connection and love he shared with the little Squirt (a.k.a Rosie) could be describe as only “ovaries exploding“. And just imagining him doing it with his English accent, is more than a female can take, believe me ladies.
This story started off so great, but the ending ……. *sigh*. Loved the character building throughout the story, but the ending was a little rushed. It felt like, the author was in a hurry to end & just slapped on a generic “they lived happily ever after” type ending. Ugh!
Short review. Mixed feelings while Jamie and Libby did have good chemistry I didn’t really like Libby, she was too prideful she constantly said no to people wanting to help her because she was determined to prove she could stand on her own. Despite not really liking Libby there were somethings I do admire about the character like how she’s a good mom and how she stood up for herself and her job choices. I liked Jamie better he went from being a stuff shirt to a likable character, there are many layers to Jamie’s character and reasons behind his stuff shirt persona.
The Broken Hearts series has been a longtime favorite of mine and reread those books often so I was insanely excited for another book by this author. Now I have another favorite to add into my rotation of rereads!
Jamie is a successful doctor and director of education for medical students. Libby is a medical student who falls asleep in Jamie’s class and he’s not interested in hearing whatever excuse she might have for it, even if they are valid excuses. When Jamie realizes that he’s been a judgmental jerk, he decides that he’s going to do everything he can to not only help Libby, but also stop denying the insane attraction he feels for her. If only he could stop being so judgmental. Libby makes no apologies for the things she needs to do to provide for her daughter and Jamie’s judgement may be the thing that costs him his future with Libby.
Libby might be one of my favorite female characters of all time. She definitely doesn’t have any cares to give when it comes to how she’s surviving becoming a mom at 17. She’s independent, strong, and super smart. She’s also pretty stubborn. Jamie was a pretty good guy but his judgement of Libby and her choices got old fast. Even though I wanted to smack upside the head at times, I really loved Jamie and how protective he is of Libby and Rosie. I’m really hoping that this book is the start of another fantastic series by this author. I can’t wait to see what comes next.